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AI attack surface
also artificial intelligence attack surface or agentic AI attack surface or agent attack surface
Definition of AI attack surface
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: the complete set of AI-specific components, interfaces, data sources, permissions, and workflows that an attacker could discover, manipulate, or exploit, including prompts, models, datasets, APIs, vector stores, plugins, tools, and agents
- The security review mapped the company's AI attack surface before connecting its support agent to customer records and refund tools.
- Adding an internet-facing MCP server expanded the agentic AI attack surface even though the underlying model did not change.
Origin & history
The term extends the cybersecurity concept of an attack surface to AI systems. It became increasingly common as generative AI applications and agents added new exposed layers such as prompts, retrieval pipelines, model endpoints, tool connections, memory, and autonomous workflows.
Editorial references
Sources & further reading
- From runtime risk to real-time defense: Securing AI agents↗ Official Security Research · Microsoft Security Blog · 2026-01-23
- The authority trap: What F5 Labs AI threat intelligence reveals about AI's expanding attack surface↗ Security Research · F5 Labs · 2026-08-13
- What is an AI Attack Surface? Definition, Risks, and How to Monitor It↗ Security Guide · CloudSEK · 2026-09-24
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Cite this entry
"AI attack surface." AI Dictionary, Dadgogo, https://dadgogo.com/dictionary/ai-attack-surface/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.