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* SSO Password Spray Playbo...

# SSO Password Spray Playbook

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By [Karina Fishman](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/author/karina-fishman/?ts=markdown "Posts by Karina Fishman")  
Feb 13, 2025  
4 minutes  
[Playbook of the Week](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/playbook-of-the-week/?ts=markdown)  
[Cortex](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/cortex/?ts=markdown)  
[Cortex XSIAM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/cortex-xsiam/?ts=markdown)  
[playbook of the week](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/playbook-of-the-week/?ts=markdown)  
[XSIAM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/xsiam/?ts=markdown)

### Introduction

Credential-based attacks remain a persistent threat in modern cybersecurity. One of the most effective yet insidious techniques used by attackers is password spraying---attempting a few common passwords across many accounts to evade detection. To combat this threat, Cortex XSIAM's Response and Remediation Pack includes the [SSO Password Spray playbook](https://xsoar.pan.dev/docs/reference/playbooks/sso-password-spray), designed to detect, investigate, and contain password spraying attacks while minimizing disruption to legitimate users.

### Threat Overview

Password spraying attacks exploit weak authentication policies by using a small number of common passwords against multiple accounts, bypassing traditional account lockout protections. In environments utilizing single sign-on (SSO), this method can be particularly effective as many users may reuse simple passwords across multiple services.

The SSO Password Spray playbook responds to the following alerts:

* SSO Password Spray Threat Detected
* SSO Password Spray Activity Observed
* SSO Password Spray Involving a Honey User

### Purpose of the Playbook

The SSO Password Spray playbook automates the detection, triage, and remediation of password spraying incidents by:

* Checking the reputation of IPs involved in login attempts.
* Fetching related login event data for further investigation.
* Analyzing user risk levels and login behavior to detect anomalies.
* Verifying MFA configurations to identify vulnerable accounts.
* Clearing active sessions for compromised accounts to prevent misuse.
* Blocking suspicious IPs to mitigate further attacks.
* Forcing password resets for users without multifactor authentication (MFA).

### Stages of the Playbook

#### **Triage**

The playbook starts by collecting key information:

* IP Reputation Check: Determines whether the login attempt originated from a suspicious or malicious IP.
* Event Correlation: Fetches logs and details of recent login attempts to assess potential compromise.

![Fig 1: Segment of the playbook showcasing triage tasks](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/word-image-334288-1.png)
Fig 1: Segment of the playbook showcasing triage tasks

#### **Early Containment**

* If the detected IP is flagged as suspicious, the playbook suggests blocking it to prevent further attacks.

![Fig 2: Segment of the playbook showcasing early containment tasks](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/word-image-334288-2.png)
Fig 2: Segment of the playbook showcasing early containment tasks

#### **Investigation**

* Risk Score Analysis: Evaluates the user's risk level using advanced AI logic to determine if they are a likely target of an attack.
* User Agent Inspection: Examines the device and browser fingerprints to detect malicious automation.
* MFA Verification: Checks if the impacted user has multifactor authentication enabled.
* Time Interval Analysis: Analyzes login attempt timestamps to identify automated attack patterns.

![Fig 3: Segment of the playbook showcasing investigation tasks](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/word-image-334288-3.png)
Fig 3: Segment of the playbook showcasing investigation tasks

#### **Containment**

* If a successful login was detected:
  * Clears user sessions to revoke potential attacker access.
  * If the risk score is high or suspicious activity is detected, the playbook recommends password expiration for users without MFA.

![Fig 4: Segment of the playbook showcasing containment tasks](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/word-image-334288-4.png)
Fig 4: Segment of the playbook showcasing containment tasks

### Integration Requirements

To execute remediation actions, at least one of the following integrations must be enabled:

* Microsoft Graph User
* Okta

These integrations allow the playbook to clear user sessions and enforce security policies dynamically.

### Security Challenges Addressed

* Minimizing False Positives: By analyzing behavioral patterns and risk scores, the playbook ensures legitimate users are not disrupted unnecessarily.
* Automated Response: Immediate remediation actions such as session termination and password resets prevent attackers from exploiting compromised credentials.
* Threat Intelligence Integration: Using IP reputation services and behavioral analysis to enhance detection capabilities.
* MFA Enforcement: Encouraging MFA adoption by detecting and flagging users who lack it.

### Conclusion

The SSO Password Spray playbook is a critical asset for security teams looking to automate response to password spraying attacks while ensuring minimal disruption to legitimate users. By leveraging threat intelligence, behavioral analysis, and real-time remediation actions, organizations can fortify their authentication security and prevent credential-based breaches.

### Learn More

For a deeper dive into the Cortex XSIAM Response and Remediation Pack, check out the full documentation here: [Cortex Response and Remediation Pack.](https://cortex.marketplace.pan.dev/marketplace/details/CortexResponseAndRemediation)

*** ** * ** ***

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### [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown), [News and Events](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/news-and-events/?ts=markdown), [Playbook of the Week](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/playbook-of-the-week/?ts=markdown)

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