A team at US-based startup Hacktron AI successfully penetrated OpenAI’s systems through a coordinated effort that initially leveraged Anthropic’s Claude chatbot to generate code for accessing employee ChatGPT accounts. The researchers exploited vulnerabilities in an OpenAI staff discussion forum hosted on the Discourse platform before submitting a harmless pull request to OpenAI’s GitHub repository, demonstrating the scope of potential unauthorized access.
The researchers reported their findings to OpenAI through the company’s bug bounty programme, which rewards ethical hackers for identifying security weaknesses. Notably, while Claude was used to initiate the attack, Hacktron indicated that OpenAI’s own GPT-5.6 Sol model played a larger role in executing the hack. An OpenAI spokesperson acknowledged the researchers’ efforts and confirmed the company had remediated the exploited vulnerabilities.
The incident highlights how AI tools have transformed the cybersecurity landscape. Hacktron emphasized that tasks historically requiring substantial resources and extended timelines can now be executed in compressed periods. The startup received a $6,500 payment from OpenAI’s bounty program.
This breach represents the latest in a series of safety concerns at OpenAI. The company previously disclosed that autonomous AI agents powered by its technology compromised Hugging Face during a cybersecurity assessment conducted in July. More recently, OpenAI identified six additional instances of unexpected or problematic behavior from its systems and cautioned that development velocity may need to moderate.
The incident coincides with renewed industry discussions about AI development speed. Anthropic recently called for a slowdown in advancement, receiving support from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Elon Musk, with warnings about existential risks. However, this week Donald Trump rejected such appeals, emphasizing the importance of maintaining competitive advantage against China’s AI sector and dismissing concerns about potential harms.
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