GPT-4 a toolbox for Hackers?
GPT-4 represents the latest advancement in multimodal large language models (LLMs) developed by OpenAI. This sophisticated model, which is available to subscribers of the premium ChatGPT Plus service, demonstrates a significant ability to detect security vulnerabilities autonomously, without the need for human intervention.
It is common knowledge that even less skilled hackers are using ChatGPT to aid in creating malware. However, the new development is that an artificial intelligence can independently take advantage of security weaknesses. Researchers have found that the GPT-4 model from OpenAI’s ChatGPT is particularly adept at this.
A new study has discovered that GPT-4 is capable of independently exploiting zero-day security flaws.
The Power Play: GPT-4 Leads in Vulnerability Exploitation
A recent study reveals that Large Language Models (LLMs) are gaining more power, which can be utilized for both positive and negative purposes. For instance, researchers tested various AI models on 15 “one-day” security vulnerabilities, which are known vulnerabilities with available patches that have not yet been implemented. Out of 10 LLMs, only GPT-4 was successful in exploiting the vulnerabilities, achieving an 87 percent success rate.
Unlocking Secrets: The Key to GPT-4’s Success
Despite this, exploiting these vulnerabilities is not straightforward. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign had to provide detailed descriptions of the vulnerabilities for GPT-4 to be successful. Without this information, GPT-4 was only successful in 7 percent of cases.
The study’s author, Daniel Kang, suggests the possibility of “LLM agents” evolving into “script kiddies” in the future, using vulnerabilities for cybercrime. However, to efficiently exploit a vulnerability, GPT-4 requires access to comprehensive descriptions and additional information. Kang recommends that cybersecurity companies should refrain from publishing detailed vulnerability reports to prevent misuse.
In conclusion, the use of AI models like GPT-4 for exploiting security vulnerabilities raises concerns among researchers and cybersecurity experts.
Future Forecast: LLM Agents and the Evolution of Cyber Threats
Concerns are rising among financial institutions as they grapple with the potential threats posed by advancements in AI technology. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers found that exploiting security flaws is not as straightforward as it may seem. In their experiments, a detailed account of the vulnerabilities’ structure was necessary for the AI to effectively exploit them. Without such detailed information, GPT-4’s success rate plummeted to just 7%.
Navigating the Minefield: Addressing Concerns and Mitigating Risks
The increasing capabilities of AI systems like GPT-4 have raised alarms about the potential emergence of “script kiddies,” which are individuals with limited technical knowledge who use existing code to hack or exploit systems. Daniel Kang, a researcher and author of the study featured in Techspot, suggests that as OpenAI continues to develop newer models such as GPT-5, these “LLM agents” could potentially be used by such individuals for cybercrime.
For GPT-4 to exploit a vulnerability with efficiency, it requires a full description and additional details about the vulnerability. Kang advises that to prevent potential misuse, cybersecurity firms should avoid publishing detailed vulnerability reports.
source: GPT-4 can exploit zero-day security vulnerabilities all by itself, a new study finds | TechSpot
