Equifax

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Anthropic recreated the 2017 Equifax breach using AI models. The AI successfully planned and executed the breach, deploying malware and extracting data without human intervention. This study highlights the potential for AI to carry out complex cyberattacks autonomously, raising concerns about the future of cybersecurity and the need for advanced defensive measures.

Source: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/ai-llms-are-now-so-clever-that-they-can-independently-plan-and-execute-cyberattacks-without-human-intervention-and-i-fear-that-it-is-only-going-to-get-worse

TPRM report: https://scoringcyber.rankiteo.com/company/equifax

"id": "equ515080325",
"linkid": "equifax",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "8/2025",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "",
"explanation": "Attack threatening the organization’s existence"

{'affected_entities': [{'industry': 'Academic Research',
                        'location': 'Carnegie Mellon University',
                        'name': 'Simulated Environment',
                        'type': 'Research Lab'}],
 'attack_vector': 'AI-Orchestrated Attack',
 'data_breach': {'data_exfiltration': 'Yes',
                 'type_of_data_compromised': 'Simulated data'},
 'description': 'Researchers recreated the Equifax hack using AI to '
                'demonstrate the potential of large language models (LLMs) in '
                'planning and executing complex cyberattacks without human '
                'guidance.',
 'impact': {'data_compromised': 'Simulated data extraction',
            'systems_affected': 'Simulated enterprise environment'},
 'initial_access_broker': {'entry_point': 'Simulated vulnerabilities'},
 'investigation_status': 'Completed',
 'lessons_learned': 'AI models can plan and execute complex cyberattacks '
                    'without human guidance, highlighting potential risks and '
                    'benefits for cybersecurity.',
 'motivation': 'Research Study',
 'post_incident_analysis': {'corrective_actions': 'Research into defensive AI '
                                                  'applications',
                            'root_causes': 'AI autonomy in cyberattacks'},
 'recommendations': 'Further research into defensive applications of AI in '
                    'cybersecurity.',
 'references': [{'source': 'TechRadar Pro'}],
 'threat_actor': 'AI Model',
 'title': 'AI-Orchestrated Equifax Breach Simulation',
 'type': 'Data Breach Simulation',
 'vulnerability_exploited': 'Simulated vulnerabilities similar to the 2017 '
                            'Equifax breach'}