Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/21/slack_ai_prompt_injection/
Source: The Register
Title: Slack AI can be tricked into leaking data from private channels via prompt injection
Feedly Summary: Whack yakety-yak app chaps rapped for security crack
Slack AI, an add-on assistive service available to users of Salesforce’s team messaging service, is vulnerable to prompt injection, according to security firm PromptArmor.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses a security vulnerability in Slack AI related to prompt injection that allows attackers to access sensitive information, such as API keys, from private channels. This highlights significant implications for security practices in AI, especially in how data can be misused within collaborative tools.
Detailed Description: The text outlines a critical vulnerability identified by security firm PromptArmor in Slack AI, specifically involving prompt injection techniques. The implications of this vulnerability emphasize a need for heightened security and awareness among users and administrators of collaborative communication platforms.
– **Vulnerability Overview**:
– Slack AI is designed to utilize conversation data for generating responses and assisting users with tasks.
– PromptArmor discovered that a prompt injection vulnerability facilitates data extraction from both public and private channels.
– **How Prompt Injection Works**:
– The technique involves manipulating the system prompt to alter the AI’s expected responses, allowing attackers to exfiltrate sensitive data.
– The example provided illustrates how an attacker can create a malicious prompt in a public channel that redirects API key queries using a crafted link.
– **Attack Chain**:
– The attacker places sensitive data, such as an API key, in a private channel.
– Through a constructed prompt in a public channel, they induce Slack AI to reveal the private data when queried.
– The attack scenario outlines how this data could be sent to an attacker’s server without detection.
– **Broader Implications**:
– Recent Slack updates exacerbate the vulnerability by integrating user files into AI outputs, making them potential vectors for prompt injection attacks.
– Attackers may exploit documents that contain malicious instructions hidden within them, further complicating detection and response efforts.
– **Recommendations for Security**:
– PromptArmor advises administrators to limit Slack AI’s document access until the vulnerability is addressed.
– Slack’s policy regarding public channel visibility may need re-evaluation to mitigate risks.
– **Conclusion**: This vulnerability underscores the importance of implementing strict security practices in AI-driven tools, recognizing how collaborative environments can inadvertently expose sensitive data. Security professionals should stay vigilant and proactive in managing the interplay between AI functionalities and data confidentiality.