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Browser-based attacks have become a significant concern for security teams in recent years. These types of attacks target users in their web browsers, aiming to compromise business apps and data. Learn about the six key browser-based attacks that security teams need to know about and how to prepare for them.
Browser-based attacks are a significant concern for security teams due to their prevalence and effectiveness. Attackers target business apps and data through third-party services, aiming to compromise them. The most common attack path involves logging into third-party services, dumping data, and monetizing it through extortion. Phishing for credentials and sessions is a direct way to compromise business applications. Malicious browser extensions can be used to extract session cookies and credentials. Malicious file delivery has become a common method used by attackers. Stolen credentials and MFA gaps can be exploited to compromise business apps.
The world of cybersecurity is constantly evolving, and as technology advances, so do the methods that malicious actors use to compromise businesses. In recent years, browser-based attacks have become increasingly prevalent, making them a significant concern for security teams. These types of attacks target users in their web browsers, aiming to compromise business apps and data.
In most scenarios, attackers don't think of themselves as attacking your web browser. Their end-goal is to compromise your business apps and data. That means going after the third-party services that are now the backbone of business IT. The most common attack path today sees attackers log into third-party services, dump the data, and monetize it through extortion.
To understand why these attacks are so effective, it's essential to look at the changes in working practices. With modern work happening across a network of decentralized internet apps, and more varied communication channels outside of email, it's harder to stop users from interacting with malicious content (at least, without significantly impeding their ability to do their jobs). Given that the browser is the place where business apps are accessed and used, it makes sense that attacks are increasingly playing out there too.
In this article, we'll explore six key browser-based attacks that security teams need to know about. These include phishing for credentials and sessions, malicious browser extensions, malicious file delivery, stolen credentials and MFA gaps, and more.
Phishing for credentials and sessions is a direct way for an attacker to compromise a business application. Attackers use phishing tooling and infrastructure that have evolved significantly in the past decade, while the changes to business IT mean there are both many more vectors for phishing attack delivery, and apps and identities to target. Phishing can be delivered through links over instant messenger apps, social media, SMS, malicious ads, and in-app messenger functionality, as well as sent emails directly from SaaS services to bypass email-based checks.
Malicious browser extensions are another way attackers compromise business apps by observing and capturing logins as they happen, and/or extracting session cookies and credentials saved in the browser cache and password manager. Attackers can create their own malicious extension and trick users into installing it, or take over an existing extension to gain access to browsers where it is already installed.
Malicious file delivery has also become a common method used by attackers. Malicious files have been a core part of malware delivery and credential theft for many years. These files are distributed through various means such as malvertising and drive-by attacks, leaving malicious file detection to basic known-bad checks or sandbox analysis using a proxy.
Stolen credentials and MFA gaps can be exploited by attackers to compromise business apps. When credentials are stolen through phishing or infostealer malware, they can be used to take over accounts missing MFA. The modern enterprise uses hundreds of apps, making it highly likely that an app hasn't been configured for mandatory MFA if possible.
Conclusion
Browser-based attacks have become a significant concern for security teams in recent years. These types of attacks target users in their web browsers, aiming to compromise business apps and data. To prepare for these attacks, security teams need to know about the six key browser-based attacks mentioned above. Push Security's browser-based security platform provides comprehensive detection and response capabilities against leading causes of breaches.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/6-Browser-Based-Attacks-Security-Teams-Need-to-Prepare-For-Right-Now-ehn.shtml
https://thehackernews.com/2025/09/6-browser-based-attacks-security-teams.html
Published: Mon Sep 15 09:00:32 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
