AI Agent · OpenAI · Mistral · Decrypt
AI Malware Worm Adapts to New Targets in Real Time, Cybersecurity Experts Say
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Advances in AI agents may be opening the door to a new cybersecurity threat: adaptive computer worms capable of generating attack strategies on the fly and spreading autonomously across networks, new research warns.
Key facts
- Rather than relying on cloud infrastructure from providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud, the malware ran AI models directly on compromised machines
- In the study, the team tested the worm in an isolated virtual network containing 33 Linux, Windows, and IoT systems seeded with common vulnerabilities
- The paper, from researchers at the University of Toronto, Vector Institute, University of Cambridge, and ServiceNow, describes a proof-of-concept AI-powered worm that can identify vulnerabilities
- In some tests, the study said the malware could reach seven generations of self-replication, and unlike many AI applications, the worm did not depend on access to AI cloud services
Summary
Researchers demonstrated an AI-powered worm that can find vulnerabilities, generate attack plans, and spread autonomously across a network. Unlike most earlier versions, the malware runs on infected machines using open-weight models rather than cloud services. The authors argue that the work shows AI-driven cyberattacks have moved beyond theory. The paper, from researchers at the University of Toronto, Vector Institute, University of Cambridge, and ServiceNow, describes a proof-of-concept AI-powered worm that can identify vulnerabilities, devise tailored attack paths, compromise systems, and replicate itself across a network while adapting its tactics to different targets.