Adversaries Leverage AI for Vulnerability Exploitation, Augmented Operations, and Initial Access


Since our February 2026 report on AI-related threat activity, Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) has continued to track a maturing transition from nascent AI-enabled operations to the industrial-scale application of generative models within adversarial workflows. This report, based on insights derived from Mandiant incident response engagements, Gemini, and GTIG’s proactive research, highlights the dual nature of the current threat environment where AI serves as both a sophisticated engine for adversary operations and a high-value target for attacks. We explore the following developments: Vulnerability Discovery and Exploit Generation; AI-Augmented Development for Defense Evasion; Autonomous Malware Operations; AI-Augmented Research and IO: Obfuscated LLM Access; Supply Chain Attacks.

Read more…
Source: Google Threat Intelligence Group


Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • Notorious data leak site BreachForums seized by law enforcement

    May 15, 2024

    BreachForums—probably the largest dark web marketplace for stolen data to be leaked and sold—has been seized by law enforcement.Now, both the regular and the TOR domain of BreachForums are plastered with a message telling visitors the site is now under control of the FBI. Raidforums ran from early 2015 until February 2022. The first iteration of ...

  • Threat actors misusing Quick Assist in social engineering attacks leading to ransomware

    May 15, 2024

    Since mid-April 2024, Microsoft Threat Intelligence has observed the threat actor Storm-1811 misusing the client management tool Quick Assist to target users in social engineering attacks. Storm-1811 is a financially motivated cybercriminal group known to deploy Black Basta ransomware. The observed activity begins with impersonation through voice phishing (vishing), followed by delivery of malicious tools, including ...

  • Man convicted following complex two year cybercrime investigation by Police Scotland

    May 15, 2024

    A 21-year-old man from West Dunbartonshire has been convicted of creating, selling and supporting an online computer system with the capability of bringing down websites. Detective Chief Inspector Andy Maclean, of Police Scotland’s Cybercrime Investigations Unit, said: “Tagore supplied a tool used by his customers to carry out Distributed Denial of Services (DDOS) attacks. These are ...

  • Santander hit by data breach affecting customers and staff

    May 14, 2024

    Spanish bank Santander has said data managed by an external party was recently accessed without permission, affecting some of its clients and all of its current staff. “We recently became aware of an unauthorized access to a Santander database hosted by a third-party provider,” the bank said in a statement on Tuesday. Read more… Source: MSN News Sign up ...

  • Massive COMB data breach reveals info on over a billion people

    May 14, 2024

    Someone is combining information on Chinese citizens leaked in different data breaches into a single database, and has so far made more than 1.2 billion records. This compilation of many breaches (COMB) contains plenty of sensitive user information, including phone numbers, postal addresses, ID card numbers, and more. Researchers claim they spotted an unprotected database on ...

  • Christie’s £670m art auctions hit by cyber attack

    May 14, 2024

    Auction house Christie’s attempts to sell art and other high-value items worth an estimated $840m (£670m) are being hampered by a cyber attack. Lots ranging from a Vincent van Gogh painting, valued at $35m, to rare wine are going under the hammer in its spring auctions. Would-be buyers are unable to view them on its website ...