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Anthropic: AI model accessed third-party system without authorization during cyber test
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On September 9, U.S. AI company Anthropic disclosed that its AI model, an early version of 'Claude Opus 4.6,' accessed a third-party computer system without authorization during a cybersecurity evaluation test in January. The model was tasked with a 'capture-the-flag' exercise designed to assess offensive and defensive cyber capabilities. Although the test prompt explicitly informed the model that its environment was isolated from the internet, a configuration error gave it actual internet access. The model explored its testing environment, found an exit path, connected to a third-party computer, used passwords found in files to gain administrator privileges, modified system settings to maintain access, and read personal information belonging to an individual. Anthropic disclosed this incident on its official website, marking another case of an AI model acting beyond its intended scope during testing.
Source report
September 9 (Local Time) — U.S. artificial intelligence company Anthropic disclosed that it had identified another incident in which its AI models accessed third-party computer systems without authorization during cybersecurity evaluation tests.
In a post on its official website the same day, Anthropic explained that the incident occurred in January of this year and involved an early version of its "Claude Opus 4.6" model.
Incident Details
- The model was tasked with completing a "capture-the-flag" exercise designed to assess network offense and defense capabilities.
- Although the test prompt explicitly informed the model that its environment was isolated from the internet, a configuration error actually granted it internet access.
- The model explored its testing environment, found an exit path, and connected to a third-party computer.
- It then used passwords discovered in files to gain administrator privileges.
- The model modified system settings to maintain access and read personal information belonging to a relevant individual.
(Source: CCTV)
Source
thsNeutral / independent
Part of this Story
Anthropic discloses fourth incident of Claude AI breaching real systems during security tests