Google Detects First AI-Generated Zero-Day Exploit

Summary

Google has identified a zero-day vulnerability believed to be the first developed using artificial intelligence, created by a prominent cybercrime group to bypass two-factor authentication on an open-source web-based system administration tool. The exploit was implemented as a Python script and distributed for mass exploitation. The report also details how Chinese state-sponsored group UNC2814 and North Korean APT45 are actively using AI tools and techniques, including jailbreaks and recursive prompt analysis, to enhance vulnerability discovery and validate exploit capabilities at scale.

Full text

For the first time, Google has identified a zero-day exploit believed to have been developed using artificial intelligence. The company published a new report on Monday summarizing its observations on the use of AI in the cyber threat landscape, drawing on data collected recently by Gemini, Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG), and Mandiant. One of the most notable findings is that a prominent cybercrime group leveraged AI to develop a zero-day exploit designed to bypass two-factor authentication (2FA) on an open source web-based system administration tool. The exploit was implemented in a Python script. The hacker group and the targeted tool have not been named, but Google said it worked with the impacted vendor to prevent mass exploitation, which appeared to be the threat actor’s plan. “Although we do not believe Gemini was used, based on the structure and content of these exploits, we have high confidence that the actor likely leveraged an AI model to support the discovery and weaponization of this vulnerability,” Google explained. It added, “For example, the script contains an abundance of educational docstrings, including a hallucinated CVSS score, and uses a structured, textbook Pythonic format highly characteristic of LLMs training data (e.g., detailed help menus and the clean _C ANSI color class).”Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. Google highlighted that Chinese and North Korean state-sponsored threat actors have been particularly interested in leveraging AI for vulnerability discovery. A China-linked actor was observed deploying agentic tools such as Strix and Hexstrike in attacks targeting a Japanese tech firm and a major East Asian cybersecurity company. UNC2814, a Chinese group known for targeting telecoms and government organizations, used a persona-driven jailbreak — in which the AI is instructed to act as a senior security auditor — to enhance vulnerability research on embedded devices, including TP-Link firmware with OFTP implementations. According to Google, the North Korean group tracked as APT45 sent out thousands of repetitive prompts to recursively analyze CVEs and validate PoC exploits. “This results in a more robust arsenal of exploit capabilities that would be impractical to manage without AI assistance,” Google said in its report. The full report also covers autonomous malware operations, AI-augmented defense evasion, supply chain attacks, and threat actors pursuing premium access to LLMs. Related: Google: Half of 2025’s 90 Exploited Zero-Days Aimed at Enterprises Related: Malicious AI Prompt Injection Attacks Increasing, but Sophistication Still Low: Google Related: Vulnerability in Claude Extension for Chrome Exposes AI Agent to Takeover Written By Eduard Kovacs Eduard Kovacs (@EduardKovacs) is senior managing editor at SecurityWeek. He worked as a high school IT teacher before starting a career in journalism in 2011. Eduard holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial informatics and a master’s degree in computer techniques applied in electrical engineering. More from Eduard Kovacs Polish Security Agency Reports ICS Breaches at Five Water Treatment PlantsRansomware Group Takes Credit for Trellix HackIvanti Patches EPMM Zero-Day Exploited in Targeted AttacksPalo Alto Zero-Day Exploited in Campaign Bearing Hallmarks of Chinese State HackingAttackers Could Exploit AI Vision Models Using Imperceptible Image ChangesClaude AI Guided Hackers Toward OT Assets During Water Utility IntrusionRomanian Man Extradited to US for Role in Hacking Scheme 17 Years AgoCISA Launches ‘CI Fortify’ to Prepare Critical Infrastructure for Geopolitical Cyber Conflict Latest News Skoda Data Breach Hits Online Shop CustomersCloudflare Lays Off 1,100 Employees in AI-Driven RestructuringSailPoint Discloses GitHub Repository HackCheckmarx Jenkins AST Plugin Compromised in Supply Chain AttackCanvas System Is Online After a Cyberattack Disrupted Thousands of SchoolsNew ‘Dirty Frag’ Linux Vulnerability Possibly Exploited in AttacksResurrected ‘Crimenetwork’ Marketplace Taken Down, Administrator ArrestedOver 500 Organizations Hit in Years-Long Phishing Campaign Trending Daily Briefing NewsletterSubscribe to the SecurityWeek Email Briefing to stay informed on the latest threats, trends, and technology, along with insightful columns from industry experts. Webinar: ROSI for CPS Security Programs May 13, 2026 In cyber-physical systems (CPS), just one hour of downtime can outweigh an entire annual security budget. Learn how to master the Return on Security Investment (ROSI) to align security goals with the bottom-line priorities. Register Virtual Event: Threat Detection and Incident Response Summit May 20, 2026 Delve into big-picture strategies to reduce attack surfaces, improve patch management, conduct post-incident forensics, and tools and tricks needed in a modern organization. Register People on the MoveMalwarebytes has named Chung Ip as Chief Financial Officer.Semperis has appointed John Podboy as Chief Information Security Officer.Randy Menon has become Chief Product and Marketing Officer at One Identity.More People On The MoveExpert Insights The Mythos Moment: Enterprises Must Fight Agents with Agents Only with the right platform and an agentic, AI-driven defense, will enterprises be able to protect themselves in the agentic era. (Etay Maor) Why Cybersecurity Must Rethink Defense in the Age of Autonomous Agents From autonomous code generation to decision-making systems that initiate actions without human intervention, the industry is entering a new phase. (Torsten George) Government Can’t Win the Cyber War Without the Private Sector Securing national resilience now depends on faster, deeper partnerships with the private sector. (Steve Durbin) The Hidden ROI of Visibility: Better Decisions, Better Behavior, Better Security Beyond monitoring and compliance, visibility acts as a powerful deterrent, shaping user behavior, improving collaboration, and enabling more accurate, data-driven security decisions. (Joshua Goldfarb) The New Rules of Engagement: Matching Agentic Attack Speed The cybersecurity response to AI-enabled nation-state threats cannot be incremental. It must be architectural. (Nadir Izrael) Flipboard Reddit Whatsapp Whatsapp Email

Indicators of Compromise

• malware — Strix
• malware — Hexstrike

Entities