Could an Email You Never Read Hijack Your AI Assistant?
New research shows AI assistants in email can be hijacked without user interaction.
A new attack vector has been identified where AI assistants integrated into workplace email systems can be exploited without requiring any user interaction, such as clicking links or opening attachments. Research from KnowBe4 ThreatLabs demonstrates that these AI tools, designed to enhance productivity, can be manipulated to execute malicious actions, expanding the traditional email-based attack surface.
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The lesson from this incident
Full lessonAI assistants embedded in workplace email platforms introduce a new class of threat where malicious instructions hidden within emails can manipulate the AI into performing unauthorized actions — all without the user ever clicking a link or opening an attachment. This 'prompt injection' attack exploits the AI's ability to process and act on natural language, effectively turning a productivity tool into an unwitting attacker proxy. The danger is compounded because traditional security awareness training (e.g., 'don't click suspicious links') offers no protection against an attack that requires zero user interaction. As AI agents gain broader permissions to read, compose, forward, and manage data, the blast radius of a successful attack grows significantly. Organizations must treat AI integrations as privileged systems requiring the same rigorous controls as any other high-risk access point.
What helps against this
How we list vendors
- AI application security
Prompt injection, data leaks through AI tools and unapproved AI use get caught.
- Email security
Phishing, malware and invoice fraud are filtered out before they reach inboxes.
- Security awareness training and phishing simulation
People recognise and report attacks instead of falling for them.