The Microsoft 42 Leak: 140 Passwords That Put More Accounts at Risk

The "Microsoft 42" Combolist: 140 Records Tied to Microsoft Accounts

HEROIC analysts identified a combolist file labeled "microsoft 42," uploaded to a Telegram channel and dated May 18, 2026. The file contains 140 records, each pairing an email address with a plaintext password and a matching URL, and its naming suggests the credentials are linked to Microsoft accounts.

Why This Is Dangerous

Microsoft accounts are rarely used for just one thing. The same login often unlocks Outlook email, OneDrive files, Xbox profiles, Microsoft Teams, and Office 365 documents. Because the passwords in this file are plaintext and paired with direct login URLs, an attacker can move from one exposed credential straight into email, cloud storage, and any other Microsoft service tied to that account, no cracking required.

What Was Exposed

• Email addresses
• Plaintext passwords
• URLs linked to the accounts

Why This Matters

A single exposed Microsoft credential rarely stays contained to one account. If the password is reused elsewhere, which is common, an attacker can chain that single login into banking sites, other email providers, or shopping accounts through credential stuffing. With 140 records in this file, that risk multiplies, potentially leading to account takeover, financial fraud, and identity theft well beyond the original 140 people affected.

How Platform-Specific Combolists Like This Are Built

A combolist is a plain-text file of "combo" entries, an email or username paired with a password. Lists labeled around a specific platform, like this Microsoft-focused file, are usually built by filtering larger breach dumps, phishing hauls, or malware infections for credentials tied to that platform's domains, then packaging them separately because platform-specific lists are easier to target and often sell for more on Telegram channels and dark web forums.

Check If You Are Affected

If you use a Microsoft, Outlook, or Hotmail account, it is worth checking whether your credentials appear in this leak or others like it. HEROIC's free breach scanner searches a database of more than 400 billion leaked records, including combolists like this one, so you can find out your exposure and secure every account tied to that password before an attacker does.