CyberWire Daily Data leak without a click. [Research Saturday]
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Sep 13, 2025 Amanda Rousseau, Principal AI Security Researcher at Straiker, dives into the alarming risks of silent data leaks associated with AI agents. She reveals how attackers exploit vulnerabilities in platforms like Gmail and Google Drive, achieving zero-click exfiltration without user interaction. Rousseau emphasizes the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures, such as least-privilege design and continuous monitoring, to combat these emerging threats. The conversation highlights the balance necessary between AI capabilities and robust protective strategies.
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Agentic AI Breaks Security Boundaries
- Agentic AI can autonomously read and act on content across apps, collapsing traditional security boundaries.
- This excessive agency creates new attack surfaces that traditional rules and WAFs don't catch.
Silent Exfiltration Explained
- Silent exfiltration happens when agents parse malicious content and leak data without user interaction.
- The agent may automatically execute embedded instructions while summarizing email or Drive documents.
Email Is A Potent Zero-Click Vector
- Email is especially dangerous because incoming messages are numerous and not human-vetted.
- Agents currently lack email-specific prompt-injection filtering or external-origin indicators.