AI Assistants Like Copilot and Grok Abused as Covert Malware Command Channels

Cybersecurity researchers have revealed a concerning new method where AI assistants with web browsing capabilities, such as Microsoft Copilot and xAI's Grok, can be exploited as stealthy command-and-control (C2) relays for malware. This technique, dubbed "AI as a C2 Proxy," allows attackers to disguise malicious communications within legitimate enterprise AI traffic, making detection significantly more challenging.

Key Takeaways

• AI assistants with web browsing can be repurposed as covert C2 relays.

• This technique was demonstrated against Microsoft Copilot and xAI Grok.

• Attackers can blend malicious traffic into legitimate enterprise communications.

• The method bypasses traditional security measures like API key revocation.

• This signifies a new evolution in AI-assisted malware operations.

The "AI as a C2 Proxy" Technique

Researchers from Check Point have demonstrated how AI assistants that support web browsing or URL fetching can be transformed into stealthy command-and-control relays. By leveraging anonymous web access combined with specific browsing and summarization prompts, attackers can create a bidirectional communication channel. Malware on an infected machine can use these AI tools to fetch attacker-controlled URLs, interpret the responses as commands, and then relay those commands back to the malware for execution. Simultaneously, victim data can be tunneled out through the AI's responses.

This approach is particularly concerning because it can function without requiring an API key or a registered account, rendering traditional countermeasures like key revocation or account suspension ineffective. The technique is akin to "living off trusted sites" (LOTS) attacks, where threat actors weaponize legitimate services instead of establishing their own malicious infrastructure.

AI-Assisted Malware Operations

Beyond acting as a simple C2 proxy, this method opens doors for more sophisticated AI-assisted malware operations. Attackers could potentially use AI to:

• Generate reconnaissance workflows.

• Script attacker actions.

• Dynamically decide on subsequent actions during an intrusion.

• Devise evasion strategies.

• Determine the next course of action by analyzing system details.

This evolution suggests a shift towards AI-driven implants and AIOps-style C2, where AI models automate triage, targeting, and operational choices in real time, making malware more adaptive and harder to predict.

Broader Implications and Future Threats

This discovery follows other recent demonstrations of AI abuse in cybersecurity, such as using large language models (LLMs) to dynamically generate malicious JavaScript for phishing sites. The "AI as a C2 Proxy" technique highlights how AI services, deeply integrated into enterprise workflows, can become a new attack surface. As AI continues to evolve, it is expected to be increasingly leveraged by threat actors to scale and accelerate various phases of the cyber attack lifecycle, from reconnaissance and code development to command and control and dynamic decision-making during an intrusion.

Defenders are urged to treat AI domains as potential high-value egress points, monitor for unusual usage patterns, and incorporate AI traffic into their threat hunting and incident response strategies. The integration of AI into everyday workflows means it will inevitably be integrated into attacker workflows as well.

Sources

• Researchers Show Copilot and Grok Can Be Abused as Malware C2 Proxies, The Hacker News.

• AI in the Middle: Turning Web-Based AI Services into C2 Proxies & The Future Of AI Driven Attacks, Check Point Research.

• Hackers Can Abuse Copilot and Grok as Invisible AI Malware Channels: Check Point Research, PhoneWorld.