Researchers Find AI-Powered Hacking Tools for Sale in Underground Forums
TechTarget, Tuesday, August 19th, 2025
Trellix found AI attack services on dark web forums that hand novices APT-grade attack plans.
Trellix researchers found criminal actors selling AI-powered hacking tools on dark web forums, including services named APEX AI, Metamorphic Crypter, and MessiahGPT.
These lower the technical barrier substantially by automating attack planning and defense evasion. Researcher Jambul Tologonov put it directly: someone who would not know where to begin a penetration test can now obtain a prioritized attack plan mirroring APT-grade tradecraft.
Separate Proofpoint research identified indirect prompt injection tools marketed at about $150 a month that manipulate AI agents through instructions hidden in emails, PDFs, and web pages.