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MFA fatigue and push bombing try to make you approve a login you did not start. SIM swapping attacks your mobile number so an intruder can receive SMS or voice codes. Both differ from phishing and adversary-in-the-middle attacks, but they demonstrate the same lesson: enabling MFA is not enough unless the method resists the attack being used. Where a service supports it, prioritize phishing-resistant MFA; use number matching only as an interim improvement for push-based sign-in.
What is an MFA fatigue attack?
An MFA fatigue attack repeatedly triggers multifactor authentication approval requests after an attacker has a password, is testing credentials, or is otherwise initiating sign-in attempts. The objective is behavioral rather than technical: the attacker hopes the user approves accidentally, assumes the request is legitimate, or accepts simply to stop the interruptions. CISA calls this push bombing or push fatigue, and a 2024 joint government advisory identifies it as a technique used in observed intrusions.
An unexpected prompt does not prove that your password has been stolen. Treat it as suspicious, decline it, and report it through your organization’s established help-desk or security channel. Do not keep approving requests to clear the notification queue.
What is push bombing?
Push bombing is the push-notification form of MFA fatigue. Instead of entering a code, the victim receives repeated “approve” or “deny” prompts in an authenticator app. Traditional push flows can make the right action look like a nuisance: one mistaken tap gives the attacker the second factor.
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Why it works
- Repeated alerts create distraction and decision fatigue.
- A user may believe a prompt is a delayed request from a real login.
- An attacker can time requests during busy or overnight periods.
In confirmed compromises described in the October 16, 2024 joint advisory, attackers used access to register an MFA device they controlled. That means dismissing prompts is not the same as investigating a potentially compromised account.
Can a SIM swap bypass two-factor authentication?
Yes, when the second factor is an SMS message or voice call. In a SIM swap, an attacker socially engineers a mobile carrier into transferring the victim’s phone number to a SIM or eSIM under the attacker’s control. Verification codes and password-reset messages sent to that number can then reach the attacker.
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CISA also describes SS7 exploitation as a separate route for obtaining SMS or voice codes. A SIM swap therefore differs fundamentally from push bombing: the attacker is taking control of the number rather than wearing down approval behavior. Carrier safeguards, account PINs, port controls and recovery processes vary by country and provider, so check the protections available for your own account.
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| Attack path | What the attacker targets | Typical weakness |
|---|---|---|
| MFA fatigue / push bombing | Your approval decision | Repeated prompts and user-error pressure |
| SIM swapping | Your mobile number | Carrier social engineering; SMS or voice codes |
| Phishing | Your password and one-time code | A convincing imitation sign-in page |
| Adversary-in-the-middle phishing | The authentication exchange or resulting session token | Relay infrastructure between you and the genuine service |
“MFA enabled” is therefore not a universal defense. CISA warns that some MFA forms remain vulnerable to phishing, push bombing, SS7-related interception or SIM swaps. NIST defines phishing resistance as preventing an impostor verifier from obtaining authentication secrets or valid authenticator outputs without depending on the user to notice the fraud. Protocol-bound methods meet that goal more directly than codes or approvals that can be relayed, copied or socially engineered.
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- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
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How do I stop MFA push notifications I didn’t request?
- Deny every request you did not initiate. Never approve one to make the alerts stop.
- Report the incident immediately. Use your employer’s security or help-desk process; personal accounts should use the service’s official compromise-reporting route.
- Change the password from a trusted device. If the account is managed by an organization, follow its incident-response instructions first.
- Ask for an account review. Security staff should check recent sign-ins, registered authenticators, recovery methods, active sessions and newly added devices.
- Remove unauthorized methods and sessions. Do this with the service’s account controls or through the security team, especially where an attacker may have registered a device.
Do not assume that a quiet notification feed means the threat is over. The 2024 joint advisory’s device-registration cases show why suspected compromise requires review beyond dismissing prompts.
Which MFA method should you choose?
CISA says phishing-resistant MFA is the most secure form and urges organizations to make migration a high priority. A FIDO2 security key is one physical option, alongside other phishing-resistant methods supported by a particular service. Before relying on a key, verify that the account supports it, enroll it while you still have a working recovery method, and plan a backup key or documented recovery route.
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- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
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| Option | Helps against | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| FIDO2 security key or another phishing-resistant method | Impostor-verifier phishing and many adversary-in-the-middle attempts | Service compatibility, enrollment, backup and recovery must be planned; no method prevents every account compromise. CISA guidance and NIST authenticator guidance |
| Push with number matching | Reduces the simple “approve to stop prompts” pattern | CISA calls it an interim measure and says it is not as strong as phishing-resistant MFA. CISA announcement |
| SMS or voice one-time code | Adds a factor beyond a password | Exposed to SIM swapping and SS7-related interception paths. CISA fact sheet |
| Push approval without number matching | Convenient approval flow | Exposed to fatigue and mistaken approval |
Why number matching is only an interim defense
With number matching, the sign-in screen displays a number and the user enters that number into the authenticator app. This blocks a basic blind-approval trick because an attacker cannot rely solely on repeated “approve” taps. CISA recommends it when an organization using push MFA cannot yet implement phishing-resistant MFA, while explicitly saying it is not as strong. A user can still be deceived into entering a number, so treat unexpected requests as suspicious even when matching is enabled.
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Reducing exposure from SMS and voice codes
- Move high-value accounts to a phishing-resistant method when the service supports one.
- Ask your carrier what account PIN, port-out lock or equivalent controls are available in your region.
- Keep recovery details current and understand how a lost phone or replaced SIM is verified.
- Do not publish personal information that could help an attacker pass carrier identity checks.
These measures reduce risk but do not make every carrier account equally protected. Confirm the exact procedures with your provider.
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- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 via USB and tap it to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
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What the available numbers do—and do not—show
Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report 2022 reported an estimate of 30,000 MFA-fatigue attacks per month from Azure AD Identity Protection telemetry; its table listed 37,000 instances in June 2022. Those are historical Microsoft telemetry figures, not a current global rate for all services. Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative page, accessed October 13, 2026, reports that 92% of employee productivity accounts are protected by phishing-resistant authentication methods. That is a vendor-specific implementation measure, not an independent test of effectiveness. No current, independently measured global prevalence figure for MFA fatigue or SIM swapping is established here.
What to do if you administer an organization
- Inventory which applications still rely on SMS, voice or approval-only push.
- Prioritize phishing-resistant enrollment for administrators, remote access and other high-impact accounts.
- Enable number matching on remaining push deployments until migration is complete.
- Alert on unusual prompt bursts, new authenticator registration and recovery-method changes.
- Document backup-key issuance, account recovery and incident escalation before enforcing a new method.
CISA’s implementation guidance is available at Implementing Phishing-Resistant MFA. NIST’s definitions and threat discussion are in SP 800-63-4 authenticator guidance and its security considerations.
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