> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/vpn-login-password-spray.md).
# VPN Login Password Spray
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | 1 Hour |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day |
| Required Data | Requires one of the following data sources:
Palo Alto Networks Global Protect OR Third-Party VPNs
|
| Detection Modules | Identity Analytics |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Brute Force: Password Spraying (T1110.003), Brute Force: Password Guessing (T1110.001) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
An abnormally high number of users failed to log in to a VPN service from an IP address within a short period of time. This may indicate a password spray attack.
### Attacker's Goals
An attacker may be attempting to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
### Investigative actions
* Analyze the time intervals between login attempts to check for patterns indicative of a password spraying attack.
* Investigate the cause of the login failures (e.g. incorrect passwords, account lockouts, other factors).
* Review the geographic regions behind the failed login attempts.
* Investigate if a successful login was made after unsuccessful attempts.
* Cross-reference the IP address with threat intelligence sources to see if it is associated with known malicious activity.
### Variations
Successful VPN Password Spray Threat Detected with unusual characteristics
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Brute Force: Password Spraying (T1110.003), Brute Force: Password Guessing (T1110.001) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
An abnormally high number of users failed to log in to a VPN service from an IP address within a short period of time. This may indicate a password spray attack.
**Attacker's Goals**
An attacker may be attempting to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
**Investigative actions**
* Analyze the time intervals between login attempts to check for patterns indicative of a password spraying attack.
* Investigate the cause of the login failures (e.g. incorrect passwords, account lockouts, other factors).
* Review the geographic regions behind the failed login attempts.
* Investigate if a successful login was made after unsuccessful attempts.
* Cross-reference the IP address with threat intelligence sources to see if it is associated with known malicious activity.
VPN login password spray with unusual characteristics
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Credential Access (TA0006) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Brute Force: Password Spraying (T1110.003), Brute Force: Password Guessing (T1110.001) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
An abnormally high number of users failed to log in to a VPN service from an IP address within a short period of time. This may indicate a password spray attack.
**Attacker's Goals**
An attacker may be attempting to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
**Investigative actions**
* Analyze the time intervals between login attempts to check for patterns indicative of a password spraying attack.
* Investigate the cause of the login failures (e.g. incorrect passwords, account lockouts, other factors).
* Review the geographic regions behind the failed login attempts.
* Investigate if a successful login was made after unsuccessful attempts.
* Cross-reference the IP address with threat intelligence sources to see if it is associated with known malicious activity.
---
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