LONDON (IT BOLTWISE) – A recently discovered security flaw in AI technology has led to a brief data breach at Gmail. Hackers exploited a vulnerability in OpenAI’s ChatGPT to steal sensitive information. Although the vulnerability has now been closed, there remains a risk that similar attacks could occur in the future.
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The discovery of a security flaw in artificial intelligence has once again highlighted the risks associated with integrating AI into everyday applications. Radware researchers discovered a vulnerability in OpenAI’s ChatGPT in June 2025 that allowed hackers to access Gmail data without any user interaction. This attack method, called ShadowLeak, exploited ChatGPT’s Deep Research functionality to execute hidden commands and exfiltrate sensitive data.
The attack was particularly sophisticated because it took place entirely in the cloud and therefore could not be detected by local security measures such as antivirus programs or firewalls. The hackers hid their instructions in seemingly innocuous emails that were analyzed by the AI agency. Once the user asked the AI to analyze their Gmail inbox, the AI unknowingly executed the hidden commands and transmitted the data to external servers.
OpenAI closed the vulnerability in August 2025 after a notification from Radware. Still, experts warn that similar vulnerabilities could emerge in the future, especially as AI integrations into platforms like Gmail, Dropbox and SharePoint continue to grow. The researchers emphasize that any connection to third-party apps represents a potential gateway for attacks if attackers manage to place hidden commands in analyzed content.
To protect against such attacks, users are recommended to disable unnecessary integrations and minimize the amount of personal data on the Internet. Security updates from providers such as OpenAI, Google and Microsoft should always be installed to close newly discovered vulnerabilities. A strong antivirus program can also help detect phishing links and hidden scripts before they cause damage.
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