Thanks to multi-factor authentication, stolen credentials aren’t the foolproof means of gaining unauthorized access to accounts they used to be. However, nefarious cybercriminals have discovered that few things are as annoying to users as receiving incessant authorization requests.
Consequently, this attack vector is known as MFA fatigue.
In this article, you’ll learn about MFA fatigue attacks, their signs, risks, and how to protect users from falling victim to this growing cybersecurity threat.
What Is MFA Fatigue, and Why Is It a Growing Concern?
Like phishing, MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) fatigue is a social engineering attack that exploits human vulnerability—in this case by seeking to overwhelm users with MFA notifications. Spam notifications are pushed incessantly until the user accidentally—or out of frustration—approves the login request to make the annoyance disappear, allowing attackers to gain illegitimate access to user accounts.
The concern is growing due to these attacks' increasing prevalence and sophistication. As more organizations implement MFA as a security measure, attackers are getting more creative in bypassing it.
MFA fatigue can grant unauthorized access to threat actors into an otherwise secure system. The MFA fatigue attack often exploits the human factor involved in the authentication process.
In addition, such attacks can be difficult to identify because they ostensibly follow the standard MFA process. Therefore, it's pivotal for organizations to educate their users about MFA fatigue attacks and implement robust measures to prevent them.
How MFA Fatigue Leads to Security Vulnerabilities
While MFA is designed to add an extra layer of data security to user accounts, an excessive number of prompts can lead to fatigue, which, in turn, can create security vulnerabilities in a few ways:
- User Complacency: When users are frequently interrupted by MFA prompts, they may become complacent, choosing to approve requests without due diligence to save time or stop being interrupted. This can lead to the approval of malicious login attempts.
- Bypassing MFA: MFA fatigue may also lead users to opt out of MFA or look for ways to bypass it entirely. This makes their accounts more susceptible to attacks as they only rely on username/password authentication, which is less secure.
- False Approval: Under constant bombardment of MFA requests, a user might accidentally or, out of frustration, approve an authentication request from a hacker, thereby giving them access to sensitive accounts.
- Trust Erosion: Over time, excessive MFA prompts could lead to erosion of trust in the system. This might lead users to ignore legitimate warnings or prompts from the system.
- Phishing Opportunity: Attackers can exploit MFA fatigue by sending phishing messages disguised as MFA prompts. Users suffering from MFA fatigue may be more likely to fall for these attacks.
In a nutshell, MFA fatigue can cause users to adopt careless security behaviors, making the system more vulnerable to attacks. To combat this, organizations must implement MFA wisely, avoiding unnecessary prompts and educating users on the importance of careful MFA practices.
What Are The Signs of MFA Fatigue Among Users?
The following are some of the signs of MFA fatigue among users:
Complaints about frequent authentication requests that disrupt their workflow: Users may express dissatisfaction about the sheer number of MFA prompts interrupting their daily tasks. This indicates that the current authentication system may be too intrusive or poorly timed.
Workers taking shortcuts around MFA or trying to disable it for ease of access: Some employees may seek unauthorized methods to bypass MFA, such as storing credentials insecurely or requesting permanent session logins, compromising overall security.
Users expressing frustration about forgetting passwords or losing security tokens frequently: Forgetting passwords or misplacing security tokens can lead to frustration, causing users to view MFA as an inconvenience rather than a security measure.
High incidence of locked accounts due to excessive failed authentication attempts: Repeated incorrect MFA attempts can result in account lockouts, signaling that users might be overwhelmed or confused by the process.
Users inadvertently approving an authentication request due to exhaustion or frustration: Fatigued users may approve MFA prompts without carefully verifying their legitimacy, increasing the risk of unauthorized access.
Authentication requests being received even when no login attempt was made: Unexpected MFA prompts can cause confusion or alarm among users. They may also become desensitized to these notifications, ignoring potentially suspicious activity.
Continuous push notifications prompting for MFA approval: Frequent push notifications can overwhelm users, leading to errors or apathy toward maintaining security vigilance.
Increasing rate of failed authentication attempts: A growing number of failed MFA attempts might indicate that users are struggling with the system, whether due to complexity, technical issues, or general fatigue.
How Can Organizations Reduce MFA Fatigue While Maintaining Security?
Organizations can reduce MFA fatigue while maintaining security by implementing the following practices:
- Risk-Based Authentication: Use this approach to tailor the degree of authentication based on the inherent risk of the action or transaction. For example, email access might require less stringent authentication than sensitive data such as financial information.
- Tailor MFA prompts: Reduce the frequency of MFA prompts for low-risk activities or when users are in familiar locations, such as office premises. This can reduce the burden of continuous authentication.
- User-friendly MFA solutions: Opt for solutions that are non-intrusive, easy to use, and smoothly dovetail into users' daily workflows. This could include biometric authentication or portable tokens rather than verbose text codes or calls.
- Adaptive authentication: This adjusts the authentication requirements based on the user's behavior and other contextual factors. If a user typically logs in at a particular time and from certain devices, the system would only trigger MFA if the login deviates from this pattern.
- Single Sign-On (SSO): SSO allows employees to log in once to access all of their applications, thereby reducing the number of times they need to authenticate.
- Security Awareness Training: Educate employees about the importance of MFA and the dangers of MFA fatigue. Training helps them understand why they are asked to confirm their identity and makes them more likely to comply.
- Passwordless Authentication: Using biometrics or hardware tokens can eliminate the need to remember and re-enter passwords, reducing fatigue.
Remember, the goal is to strike a balance. An effective MFA strategy should frustrate attackers, not the users. The more user-friendly and adaptive the MFA solution, the less likely users are to experience fatigue.
What Alternatives to Traditional MFA Methods Can Help Mitigate Fatigue?
Alternatives to traditional MFA methods that can help mitigate fatigue include:
- Adaptive Authentication: This type of authentication uses AI to understand user behavior patterns and only requests additional authentication when unusual behavior or risk factors are present.
- Biometric Authentication: Biometrics like fingerprints or facial recognition provide a seamless and secure user experience, eliminating the need to constantly re-enter a code or password.
- Push Notification Authentication: Instead of a code, the user receives a push notification on their smartphone that allows them to approve or deny login attempts.
- Behavioural Biometrics: This technique involves analyzing patterns in user behavior, such as keystroke dynamics, mouse movements, or touch patterns on mobile devices, to verify the user's identity.
- Risk-Based Authentication: It adjusts the authentication requirements based on the level of risk associated with the user's current behavior.
- Passwordless Authentication: It uses an email or SMS link, biometrics, a security key, or an app to authenticate users, eliminating the need for remembering and entering a password.
- Time-based One-time Password (TOTP): The system generates a temporary password that is valid only temporarily, reducing the need for constant authentication input.
While these alternative methods can help reduce MFA fatigue, they should not replace MFA entirely. A layered approach to security is always best for comprehensive data protection.
How User Training and Awareness Can Help Combat MFA Fatigue
User training and awareness play a critical role in combating MFA fatigue. By educating users on the importance of MFA and the dangers of MFA fatigue attacks, organizations can strengthen their cybersecurity measures. The key points of such training should include:
Understanding MFA: Users should understand what MFA is, the need for it, and how it works. A clear understanding of the process will highlight its importance in securing personal and professional data.
Recognizing MFA Fatigue Attacks: Training should educate users on how to recognize an MFA fatigue attack. Signs include repeated or unexpected authentication requests, especially those coming at odd hours.
Responding to Unexpected/Repeated Requests: Users should be trained never to approve unexpected authentication requests. They should be encouraged to report such activities to their IT or Security department.
Explaining Social Engineering Tricks: Criminals often use deceit to trick people into approving requests. Training would help users recognize these tactics, like forged emails or messages from supposed colleagues or IT personnel.
Promoting Healthy Authentication Habits: Encourage users not to rush or feel pressured to approve requests and emphasize the importance of checking the details of every MFA notification.
Provide Clear Reporting Mechanisms: Ensure that there is a clear and straightforward way for users to report suspicious activity promptly.
Such education can equip users with the skills and knowledge to identify and correctly respond to MFA fatigue attacks, reducing the probability of successful data breaches.
The Best Practices to Implement a User-Friendly MFA Process
- Simplify the process: Avoid complex processes for authentication. The easier the process, the more likely users will comply.
- Consider adaptive MFA: Adaptive MFA adjusts the level of identity assertion to the risk of the transaction. This reduces the need for additional verification for less risky actions, reducing user frustration.
- Leverage familiar technologies: Use authentication methods that users already know (biometrics, mobile device push notifications, etc.).
- Strike the right balance: Find the balance between security and ease of use. Over-complicated procedures can lead to users attempting to bypass them.
- Offer alternatives: Provide alternative authentication methods. If one method fails, users can choose another without getting locked out.
- Provide clear instructions: Offer clear instructions on how to use MFA. Comprehensive guides and FAQs help users understand what they need to do.
- Passwordless authentication: Consider enabling passwordless authentication. Biometric or token-based authentication methods can be more user-friendly.
- Regular training: Conduct regular training and awareness sessions with users. Ensure they understand MFA's importance and how to use it correctly.
- Use automation: Use a solution to automate the MFA process whenever possible to reduce manual input mistakes.
- Provide support: Have a helpdesk or support channel ready to assist users with trouble with the MFA process. Promptly address their issues and ensure they understand the solution.
Learn How Digital Guardian Can Help You Mitigate MFA Fatigue Risks
While MFA fatigue is becoming a potent attack vector, adopting layered and comprehensive cybersecurity protection is the best solution for preventing such attacks and limiting the damage they can cause.
Fortra's Digital Guardian DLP can serve as a complementary solution to MFA that will quickly enhance data visibility, prevent threat actors from carrying out malicious actions, and notify administrators of suspicious activity—all while keeping users productive.
Schedule a demo with us today to get started.
