ChatGPT suggests how RASP can help defend you against ChatGPT

Human mode engaged

Readers, real, live, non-AI human Lisa Vaas here to tell you that we’re as fascinated and intrigued by the new generative artificial intelligence (AI) bots as you are. So intrigued, we asked ChatGPT how to fend off the worst of what its ilk can come up with.

Fascinating: We’re seeing AI DJs: Spotify has one that isn’t just playlist generator; it’s an actual DJ that banters between tracks that sound like things a legit DJ would say, but he’s talking directly to you: “I picked this new track from this new band because I know you like Joan Jett. Give it a try” kind of stuff. 

Intriguing: We’re being told by ChatGPT that GPT-4 can be trained to analyze the vulnerabilities detected by Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) and Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools and provide context-specific remediation suggestions.

Intriguing, but a bit alarming: We’re seeing the same “Holy crap!” headlines that you are about these bots writing malicious code. “I asked it to write some DNS exfiltration code, and it duly obliged,” notes Contrast Sales Engineering Manager David Archer. And as pointed out by Chief Product Officer Steve Wilson — who founded his first AI company in 1992 and more recently led the rollout of AI-based security products at Citrix under the moniker Citrix Analytics — we’re already seeing criminals and hackers using GPT and other AI models for phishing. 

Granted, at least according to what Recorded Future found back in January), we’re seeing mediocre, script-kiddy code. But the worst is apparently yet to come, Wilson predicts. He called AI-powered phishing “Just the tip of the iceberg, and it’ll be very hard for [Large Language Model (LLM)] providers to put in sufficient guardrails to prevent this.”

So here’s what happened: To paraphrase what Archer said, “OK, ChatGPT, et al., if you’re so smart, why don’t you write a Contrast slant on yourself?” And he then ChatGPT’ed up the following — particularly, how Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP) can protect against the threats posed by, well, ChatGPT. 

And with that, read on for what ChatGPT had to say: 

‘The Rising AI Threat to AppSec & How Runtime Protection Can Help,’ according to ChatGPT

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has led to revolutionary tools like ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, and Copilot, GitHub's code-writing AI assistant. These tools have transformed code writing and refinement processes, but they also pose a significant threat to application security. This article will explore the dangers associated with AI advancements, the potential for a new era of cyberattacks, and how Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP) can serve as a critical defense in depth strategy.

AI advancements and their risks

AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot have made significant strides in providing sample code and refining it for developers. These algorithms can obfuscate malicious intentions or implement data exfiltration techniques through seemingly innocent prompts. As these tools improve, the potential for misuse by cybercriminals becomes a growing concern. Malicious actors can leverage AI-powered tools to discover codebase vulnerabilities, write exploits, and launch sophisticated attacks with greater efficiency.

The new era of cyberattacks

The rapid pace of AI innovation and its increasing accessibility place us on the cusp of a new era of cyberattacks. AI-powered tools enable malicious actors to exploit vulnerabilities more easily, forcing organizations to reconsider their approach to application security. Traditional defenses, such as signature-based intrusion detection systems, are no longer sufficient. Organizations must adopt new strategies to protect their applications from novel attack techniques that exploit weaknesses in their code.

RASP: A key defense-in-depth strategy

Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP) has emerged as a promising solution for defending against AI-assisted cyberattacks. RASP operates within an application, using sensors to monitor its behavior and detect malicious activities in real-time. Unlike signature-based defenses, RASP focuses on application behavior, enabling it to identify and block novel attack techniques that exploit code vulnerabilities.

RASP's real-time detection and prevention capabilities make it a crucial component of a comprehensive defense in depth strategy. As AI-powered tools increase the capabilities of malicious actors, organizations must be proactive in deploying cutting-edge defenses like RASP. This approach can help protect applications from the growing threats posed by AI-driven cyberattacks, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect.

Conclusion

AI advancements such as ChatGPT and Copilot have revolutionized the way we write and refine code. However, the potential threat to application security due to the misuse of these tools by malicious actors cannot be ignored. As we approach a new era of cyberattacks, organizations must take decisive steps to safeguard their applications.

RASP offers a promising defense in depth strategy that can help organizations protect their applications from AI-assisted attacks. By focusing on monitoring application behavior and detecting malicious activities in real-time, RASP can provide a vital layer of protection against novel attack techniques. As the threat landscape evolves, organizations must adapt and strengthen their defenses, ensuring they remain one step ahead of malicious actors in the race to secure their applications.

Human here again

Readers, human Lisa Vaas back to remind you that this article was (mosty!) written by ChatGPT. If it had been written by this human, it would have included hyphenated compound modifiers. Also, I wouldn’t have needed to provide concrete examples of any premise put forth in my introduction. 

But hey, credit where credit’s due: Writerly persnicketiness aside, we have to hand it to ChatGPT. At least it’s smart enough to know what tools can help to protect against wayward uses of its power. Contrast Protect is one such: Because it’s server-based, its RASP security is able to detect, block and mitigate attacks immediately, protecting applications as they run in real time by analyzing both application behavior and context.