Password-reset abuse is the manipulation of an account recovery process to take over a user account. Instead of cracking the password directly, an attacker targets the reset workflow: the email link, SMS code, security questions, token validation, or an application bug that lets them trigger or alter the reset request.
This matters because password reset is often the easiest route around strong authentication. If the recovery logic is weak, an attacker can gain access to admin panels, email accounts, or cloud services without ever knowing the original password. In web applications and WordPress plugins, flaws in reset handling can become full account takeover, especially when the reset action is exposed before login or trusts unverified input.
Defenses include short-lived reset tokens, strict identity checks, rate limiting, audit logs, and alerts for unexpected password changes or recovery requests.