AI Sec Watch

Gradio (an open-source Python package for building web interfaces quickly) has a vulnerability in versions before 6.7 on Windows with Python 3.13 and newer that allows attackers to read any file from the server by exploiting a flaw in how the software checks if file paths are absolute (starting from the root directory). The vulnerability exists because Python 3.13 changed how it defines absolute paths, breaking Gradio's protections against path traversal (accessing files outside intended directories).

Gradio, a Python package for building web interfaces, has a security flaw in versions 4.16.0 through 6.5.x where it automatically enables fake OAuth routes (authentication shortcuts) that accidentally expose the server owner's Hugging Face access token (a credential used to authenticate with Hugging Face services) to anyone who visits the login page. An attacker can steal this token because the session cookie (a small file storing login information) is signed with a hardcoded secret, making it easy to decode.

President Trump directed federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's AI products and gave them six months to phase out usage, after the company disputed with the Department of Defense. The Pentagon's Secretary of Defense designated Anthropic as a supply-chain risk to national security, meaning military contractors can no longer do business with the company, because Anthropic refused to let its AI models be used for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons (systems that make decisions and take action without human control).

Anthropic, maker of the AI chatbot Claude, refused the Pentagon's demand to allow unrestricted military use of its technology, citing concerns about safeguards against mass surveillance and autonomous weapons (systems that make decisions without human control). President Trump ordered all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's technology in response, escalating a public dispute within the AI industry about balancing national security needs with AI safety protections.

President Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using Claude (an AI system made by Anthropic) after the company's CEO refused to sign a military agreement that would allow unlimited use of their technology. The disagreement centers on whether Anthropic's AI should be available for all military purposes, including domestic surveillance.

A software developer who was skeptical about AI coding agents discovered they have become significantly more capable, using them to build increasingly complex projects including a Rust implementation of machine learning algorithms. The developer notes that recent AI coding models (like Opus 4.6 and Codex 5.3) are dramatically better than earlier versions, but this improvement is hard to communicate publicly without sounding like promotional hype.

Google's API keys (simple identifiers that were designed only for billing purposes) unexpectedly gained the ability to authenticate access to private Gemini AI project data without any warning to developers. Researchers found 2,863 exposed keys that could let attackers steal files, datasets, and documents, or rack up expensive bills by running the AI model repeatedly.

AI assistants designed to find security vulnerabilities (weaknesses in software that attackers can exploit) are not yet reliable enough for professional use, despite their potential to help find bugs faster. Experts say current AI tools have problems with both accuracy and speed, making them unsuitable for businesses and developers who need dependable security scanning.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly supported rival company Anthropic in its dispute with the US Department of Defense over AI tool usage, stating that OpenAI shares Anthropic's refusal to allow certain uses like domestic surveillance and autonomous offensive weapons. The Pentagon has threatened Anthropic with retaliation, including invoking the Defense Production Act (a law letting the government use a company's products as it sees fit) or labeling the company a supply chain risk, but Anthropic maintains its position on restricting potentially harmful applications.