Cybersecurity & Privacy — 2026-03-26
SANS: All Five Most Dangerous Attack Techniques Now AI-Powered for First Time
At RSAC 2026, SANS Institute revealed that all five of this year's most dangerous attack techniques are AI-powered, a first in the annual assessment. SANS president Ed Skoudis stated the panel would be "lying to you if we pointed out a trend in attacks that did not involve AI." Joshua Wright disclosed that AI has shattered the barrier to entry for zero-day discovery, with independent researchers finding production zero-days for as little as $116 in AI token costs. The session also unveiled the 2026 Cybersecurity Workforce Research Report.
Analysis
The $116 AI-driven zero-day discovery cost represents an orders-of-magnitude reduction from traditional exploit development. This changes the threat model for defensive security teams and validates concerns raised in prior digests about AI lowering barriers to offensive cyber operations during the Iran conflict.
The $116 AI-driven zero-day discovery cost represents an orders-of-magnitude reduction from traditional exploit development. This changes the threat model for defensive security teams and validates concerns raised in prior digests about AI lowering barriers to offensive cyber operations during the Iran conflict.
3 sources
- SANS: Top 5 Most Dangerous New Attack Techniques to Watch -
Dark Reading - The Five Most Dangerous New Attack Techniques: Crucial Tips for Defenders - RSAC Conference
- SANS Institute Returns to RSAC 2026 with Industry-Leading Keynotes -
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