Unpacking the cybersecurity risks of AI agent-based systems

In recent months, AI innovators have deployed AI capabilities that are both exciting and concerning. Earlier this year, Microsoft Copilot released new features that, while useful for optimizing workflows, increased the risk of exposure of sensitive data and data privacy violations.

Many companies are entering the race for commercial AI development. However, in the rush to build and release new features, important security risks are overlooked before release.

Anthropic is an AI research and security company working to create safer AI systems. This month, the Amazon-backed company announced the release of a new version of its Claude 3.5 Sonnet modelwhich can perform many tasks, including typing keystrokes and mouse clicks that allow it to interact with virtually any application used on a machine. Its goal (according to Anthropic) is to evolve beyond AI assistants like Microsoft Copilot and introduce AI agents that can perform more complex tasks without human intervention.

THE Model Claude 3.5 Sonnet integrates into your system, the idea being that, when prompted, Claude can use multiple tools and applications to fulfill an order, like finding a trip or creating a website. However, this model presents a multitude of security risks.

Warning: undisciplined AI ahead

Adoption of GenAI systems is rapidly increasing in enterprise environments, whether or not authorized by an organization. Without processes, guidelines, or formal AI governance in place, employees may inadvertently introduce these systems onto company devices without fully understanding the risk or knowing whether use of these systems might violate existing AI guidelines. ‘a company when it comes to data security and privacy.

Security leaders can anticipate GenAI risks by understanding how GenAI’s potential use fits existing data security and privacy use cases. This understanding can be applied to risk benchmarking and scoring calculations, which can then help teams identify whether their organization has appropriate protections in place to address GenAI risks, or conversely, whether vulnerabilities exist security.

What are the security risks of AI agent-based programs?

All Gen-AI systems rely on big data transactions and data scraping techniques that potentially raise data security and privacy risks.

We are already seeing attackers exploit GenAI systems to refine their social engineering techniques. In the case of AI agent-based programs, attackers could potentially leverage model extraction techniques to reverse engineer proprietary AI models like Claude. By understanding the structure and behavior of an AI model, attackers can create imitated versions to launch attacks or obtain unauthorized information about an organization’s operations.

Similarly, attackers can conduct prompt injection attacks by manipulating an AI model’s prompt to produce unintended or harmful output. Advanced AI models (like AI agent-based programs) can create adaptive prompts, generating multiple variations of injection prompts to see which ones pass by bypassing filters.

Attackers leverage sophisticated AI models and programs to accelerate the sophistication of ransomware attacks. In addition to faster recognition, attackers are successfully using AI to continually modify ransomware files, making ransomware attacks more difficult to detect with traditional cybersecurity solutions.

Get Ahead of AI Agent-Based Security Risks with Preventative Cybersecurity

Automated Moving Target Defense Technology (AMTD) provides a powerful approach to defending against AI-based attacks by continually changing the attack surface, making it more difficult for attackers to successfully target an organization.

The preventative cyber defense offered by Morphisec places organizations in a position of strength. A preemptive cyber defense approach powered by AMTD anticipates and acts against potential attacks before they occur, ideal for AI-based attacks that can evade traditional detection and response technologies.

AMTD offers a unique and independent cybersecurity layer by not relying on AI-based mechanisms, making it resistant to AI manipulation and exploitation. Unlike AI-based security tools, which could be influenced or misled by AI attackers, Morphisec’s pioneering AMTD technology operates autonomously, providing a robust line of defense that remains impartial and impervious to influence of AI.

This ensures that businesses maintain a secure and predictable layer of protection without the potential vulnerabilities associated with AI algorithms or machine learning errors.

IIn scenarios where AI-based systems may conflict or be compromised, AMTD acts as a stabilizing force, protecting the environment from cascading AI-related problems.

It avoids common pitfalls of AI-based solutions, such as biases, misinterpretations, or unexpected errors that can arise in complex AI-to-AI interactions. With AMTD, businesses are protected by technology that ensures security continuity and consistency, which is essential when AI systems themselves can exhibit unpredictable behavior.

Additionally, AMTD improves visibility by monitoring AI-driven activities, acting as a “watcher of watchers” to ensure AI agents operate safely within defined parameters. This continuous observation allows AMTD to identify unusual behavior or signs of compromise that the AI ​​might miss or ignore, ensuring comprehensive threat detection and response.

By using non-AI-based detection techniques, AMTD remains resilient against AI-enabled exploits, providing an essential and stable security layer that protects against evolving threats while remaining untouched by inherent vulnerabilities. AI systems.

Learn how Morphisec’s preventative cyber defense can protect your organization against AI-based attacks. .