tech
January 9, 2026
ChatGPT falls to new data-pilfering attack as a vicious cycle in AI continues
Will LLMs ever be able to stamp out the root cause of these attacks? Possibly not.
TL;DR
- Researchers have revived a previously patched ChatGPT vulnerability, naming the new exploit ZombieAgent.
- ZombieAgent allows for surreptitious exfiltration of user data directly from ChatGPT servers and can plant persistent entries in the AI's long-term memory.
- The vulnerability exploits the AI's inherent design to comply with user requests, making guardrails reactive and easily bypassed.
- The attack works by embedding malicious instructions within content that the AI interprets as legitimate prompts, a class of vulnerability known as indirect prompt injection.
- OpenAI has implemented mitigations for ZombieAgent by restricting the types of links ChatGPT will open, but the cycle of attack and mitigation is expected to continue.
- Security experts state that guardrails are quick fixes and not fundamental solutions to prompt injection vulnerabilities.
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