Shared Security Podcast Autonomous Hacking? This Startup May Have Just Changed Penetration Testing Forever
Jul 7, 2025
Discover the groundbreaking advancements in autonomous penetration testing as a cybersecurity startup leverages AI to revolutionize offensive security. The discussion highlights the intriguing potential and challenges of AI automation in identifying vulnerabilities. Additionally, the necessity of skilled penetration testers remains critical, emphasizing transparency in findings. With an eye on the evolving technology landscape, the hosts explore both the promise and pitfalls of these innovations in the cybersecurity realm.
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AI Finds More Low-Hanging Fruit
- XBOW trained an autonomous AI to pass popular web app hacking labs and scored top on HackerOne leaderboard.
- This breakthrough hints at AI finding more low-hanging security issues than current automated tools.
Human Review Still Essential
- The autonomous system submitted over a thousand findings, all reviewed by humans before reporting.
- Human review weeded out irrelevant or duplicate findings just like in traditional pen testing.
AI's Limits on Business Logic
- AI agents excel at spotting straightforward vulnerabilities but still struggle with complex business logic flaws.
- True AI understanding will be required to identify these nuanced security issues effectively.