𝗨𝗻𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗲𝘀 — 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗟𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗻 [WDTD#256]

𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁:
Shared mailboxes (e.g., support@, finance@, admin@) are operationally convenient — but often lack 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.
When multiple individuals access the same mailbox, actions become difficult to attribute and control.

Attackers exploit this ambiguity.

Common shared mailbox risks include:

• Shared credentials instead of delegated access 🔑
• No MFA enforced on mailbox access 🕳️
• Inability to attribute who sent, deleted, or modified emails ⚠️
• Forwarding rules created silently within shared mailboxes
• Sensitive data (invoices, HR info, credentials) stored indefinitely
• No access review for users added to shared mailboxes

⚠️ When identity is shared, accountability is diluted — and so is security.

𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗽:
📧 During IAM and email security audits, validate:

• Shared mailboxes use delegated access, not shared passwords
• MFA is enforced through individual identities
• Access to shared mailboxes is role-based and reviewed periodically
• Actions within shared mailboxes are logged and attributable
• Forwarding rules and external sharing are restricted and monitored
• Sensitive content follows retention and DLP policies

𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿:
Ask your IT or security team:

• How many shared mailboxes exist — and who owns them?
• Are any accessed using shared credentials?
• Can we attribute every action taken within them?
• Would we detect abuse or unauthorized forwarding?

If shared mailboxes lack governance, attackers gain cover behind operational convenience.

𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

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