Microsoft recently detected and stopped an advanced phishing campaign that used AI-generated code to hide its malicious payload within an SVG file, highlighting the evolving tactics of cybercriminals leveraging artificial intelligence. The attackers disguised phishing emails to appear as file-sharing notifications targeting U.S.-based organizations, aiming to steal login credentials.
The phishing emails originated from a compromised small business email account and used a self-addressed tactic to conceal actual recipients in the BCC field, a move intended to evade detection. The attached SVG file mimicked a PDF document but contained obfuscated JavaScript designed to execute malware and redirect victims to fake login pages to harvest credentials.
Microsoft’s AI-powered Defender for Office 365 was able to identify multiple threat signals, including suspicious network behavior, fake sender-recipient addresses, and obfuscated code features typical of AI authoring. Despite the enhanced complexity of AI-generated code, Microsoft demonstrated that these threats are detectable using behavioral and infrastructural analysis rather than just content inspection.
This incident underscores the dual role of AI in cybersecurity—as a tool used both by attackers to craft sophisticated attacks and defenders to detect and neutralize them. Microsoft continues to enhance its defenses, emphasizing the need for ongoing vigilance against AI-augmented cyber threats.
Users are advised to remain cautious of suspicious emails and verify unexpected attachments, even if they appear legitimate at first glance.
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