When Zenity took the stage at Black Hat 2025 to demonstrate their zero-click ChatGPT hack, one detail stood out above the rest: Google Drive integration was the key to turning a compromised AI account into a full-blown data breach.
If you use ChatGPT — or any AI tool — with Google Drive (or Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, etc.), this post is for you.
Connecting AI to Google Drive is incredibly convenient:
You can ask for a file by name and get it instantly.
You can edit or create documents without leaving the chat.
You can upload content for the AI to analyze and summarize.
But here’s the flip side:
When your AI account gets compromised, every permission you’ve granted to Google Drive becomes a ready-made attack surface for the intruder.
In Zenity’s proof-of-concept, once the attacker had ChatGPT account access, they could:
Read any accessible file — from financial reports to confidential contracts.
Replace files with malicious versions — for example, a PDF with embedded malware.
Plant misleading documents — like altered spreadsheets that throw off business decisions.
Create “decoy” files to lure you or your colleagues into opening malware-laced content.
The danger isn’t just in what the attacker does while you’re watching.
It’s that they can operate quietly:
Uploading a single altered document that sits unnoticed until the day you need it.
Making copies of files without changing the originals — so you don’t see anything wrong in your folders.
Linking your Drive to another AI account they control, creating a hidden pipeline for your data.
Unlike obvious breaches (e.g., a flood of spam or deleted files), these attacks are designed to leave no immediate signs.
The Contract Swap
Right before you send a signed contract, the attacker replaces the final PDF in your Drive with one that has altered payment terms — sending funds to their account instead of yours.
The Trojan Report
An attacker injects malicious macros into a monthly report template. The next time it’s generated and sent to clients, it infects their systems — making you look like the source of the attack.
The Strategic Leak
The attacker copies and exfiltrates your upcoming product launch plans, selling them to competitors months before you go public.
If you think, “But I’ve had Google Drive for years without a problem,” here’s the key difference:
Traditionally, attackers would need to compromise your Google account directly.
Now, they can target your AI account instead — and use its trusted link to Drive as the backdoor.
It’s often easier to bypass AI authentication than Google’s direct security controls, especially if the AI integration uses weak or overly broad tokens.
These are the immediate steps you can take to lower the risk:
Review Your AI’s Drive Permissions
In Google Security settings, check what your AI app can access.
Remove “full access” if “view only” will suffice.
Segment Sensitive Files
Keep critical business docs in a separate Drive folder that’s not linked to AI tools.
Use shared drives with restricted membership for high-value content.
Enable Activity Monitoring
Turn on Drive activity alerts to flag file changes, downloads, and new app connections.
Rotate Integration Tokens
Disconnect and reconnect AI-to-Drive integrations every 90 days to invalidate old tokens.
Adopt a “Last Mile” Review Process
Before sending or acting on an AI-supplied file, verify its origin and contents manually.
Make AI integration reviews part of quarterly security audits.
Require dual approval for any AI-to-cloud-storage integration.
Train employees to treat AI-linked files with the same skepticism as unsolicited email attachments.
AI tools are quickly becoming “super connectors” between people, processes, and platforms. That’s powerful — but it also means one breach can cascade across every connected system.
Google Drive is just one example. Dropbox, OneDrive, and Box carry the same risks if integrated with AI platforms.
The takeaway?
If your AI can access your files, so can anyone who controls your AI.
📢 EBODA.digital can help you lock the silent door before it’s kicked open
Our AI Security Readiness Assessment covers integration risks, permission audits, and incident response planning — so your connected systems stay secure.
Schedule your assessment today
before your AI’s convenience becomes an attacker’s opportunity.