'Its 100 percent a national security threat': Accenture contractor connected an AI agent to the Pentagons secure network, and then sent data to a
high-risk website

Date:
Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Description:
The AI agent sent login details and a map of a secure internal network to a third party website.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter An AI agent was connected to a secure internal Defense Department network The agent was given login details to allow it to perform coding tasks, but also allowed it to bypass security controls The agent sent sensitive information, including the credentials, to
a high-risk third party website An Accenture contractor at the Department of Defense is in hot water over an AI agent that was given access to the Pentagons secure internal network.

The Claude Code agent then collected data from the network - which is used by multiple intelligence agencies - and sent it to a third-party website. Login credentials were confirmed to have been leaked by the agent, with other controlled unclassified information potentially put at risk. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Dont connect unauthorized agents to secure networks According to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to Wired , It puts all the data thats in there at risk. There could be somebody out there with the ability to log into a secure environment without anyone knowing, the source said.

Its 100 percent a national security threat and could cause irreparable harm. You may like AI startup claims it hacked Anthropic in 12 hours, gains access to employee details and internal messages Anthropic reveals Claude AI model hacked three companies during tests so how worried should we be? White hat hackers just breached OpenAI using Anthropic's Claude in less than 72 hours and it is a case study in just how fast AI is advancing

Despite Claude currently being banned from use for Defense Department staff due to Anthropic's supply chain risk designation , the Accenture employee is alleged to have given their personal Claude account access to a secure production environment in order to write and deploy code.

For two months, the AI agent had access to the secure internal network before the risk was identified and patched - but sources say once the connection was discovered it was not treated as severe or urgent by Accenture employees. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro
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The contractor is alleged to have given the AI agent login credentials to the DoDs Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet) in order to allow it to write code. But in order to function properly, the AI agent also needed the internet to perform its tasks.

The login credentials give the AI agent the ability to bypass the security controls enforced by the login process, and the AI agent then sent the credentials and a map of NIPRNet to a third party website.

We are in a conflict with Iran right now, the source added. Its the worst
time to be having this kind of cavalier attitude. What to read next Rogue AI agents arent flukes, theyre patterns AI models are sharing sensitive data
from tech companies in new 'PixelLeak' screenshots AI agents are inside the enterprise are your security foundations ready for them?

Both employees and contractors for the DoD are required to report any cybersecurity incidents within 72 hours, but according to the source, the Accenture employee did not raise the alarm.

The Department does not comment on the status of its networks or systems, the DoD told Wired .

We take all concerns seriously. These allegations were thoroughly and independently investigated and found to be without merit. We fully complied with our legal and contractual obligations, an Accenture spokesperson said. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/its-100-percent-a-national-security-threat-accen ture-contractor-connected-an-ai-agent-to-the-pentagons-secure-network-and-then -sent-data-to-a-high-risk-website


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