Token misuse means using a valid access token in a way that was not intended or authorized. The token may be real and unexpired, but the person or process using it is not following the access boundaries that were originally granted.
This matters because many cloud and identity systems trust tokens as proof of authentication. If an attacker steals a token, reuses one from another session, or abuses a token with broader permissions than expected, they can act like a legitimate user without immediately triggering password-based defenses. In real attacks, token misuse can enable mailbox access, data export, API calls, or lateral movement from one cloud service to another. Defenders look for unusual locations, odd user agents, impossible travel, abnormal data downloads, and token use that does not match normal business activity. Strong session controls, short token lifetimes, conditional access, and log review help reduce the risk.