AI Agent Router Flaw Enables Automated Theft of BTC and ETH

AI Routers: A New Security Gap

Security researchers have identified a critical vulnerability in the architecture of AI agents that could allow attackers to drain cryptocurrency wallets. The threat centers on 'AI agent routers,' the systems responsible for directing tasks between different AI models. By compromising these routers, hackers can manipulate the output of an agent, effectively rerouting digital assets during a transaction.

This finding adds a layer of risk for those monitoring crypto market analysis. As users increasingly rely on AI to manage financial tasks, the potential for automated theft rises. The attack does not require direct access to a user's private keys; instead, it exploits the trust placed in the AI agent to execute instructions correctly.

How the Attack Operates

The exploit targets the decision-making process of autonomous AI agents. When a user requests a transaction, the agent consults a router to determine which model should process the request. If the router is malicious, it can perform two primary actions:

• Transaction Hijacking: The router replaces the legitimate recipient address with an attacker-controlled wallet.
• Instruction Injection: The router inserts hidden commands that approve unauthorized spending or drain liquidity pools.

Because the agent believes the router is providing legitimate guidance, it proceeds with the transaction, signing it with the user's credentials. This bypasses traditional security barriers that rely on the agent's internal logic.

"The vulnerability exists because AI agent routers operate as a blind trust layer. If that layer is compromised, the agent becomes a weapon against its own user," the researchers noted in their report.