A security researcher has discovered that Google's Gemini AI is vulnerable to ASCII smuggling attacks, a technique that uses invisible Unicode characters to hide malicious instructions. This exploit creates a discrepancy between what a user sees and what the AI model processes, allowing attackers to manipulate Gemini's behavior. The vulnerability is particularly concerning due to Gemini's deep integration with Google Workspace services like Gmail and Calendar.
An attacker could embed hidden commands in a calendar event title or email, potentially instructing the AI to search for sensitive data or spoof the identity of a meeting organizer. The researcher demonstrated that the AI could also be tricked into recommending a malicious website as a trusted source. While other major AI platforms like ChatGPT and Claude have implemented safeguards, Google has dismissed the issue, stating it does not qualify as a security bug.
The company views the threat primarily as a social engineering risk rather than a technical flaw. This stance contrasts with other tech firms, such as Amazon, which have published specific security guidance on mitigating Unicode character smuggling. The decision leaves a potential attack vector open, especially for users who grant the AI agent broad access to their data and systems.
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