Ethical Hacking News
Shadow IT has become a major concern for organizations, with employees being able to install unauthorized apps at will. The lack of visibility into the application stack and the rise of Shadow AI have created new vulnerabilities that need to be addressed. Learn more about how to prevent this phenomenon and ensure long-term security in our latest article.
The democratization of IT security has led to a proliferation of "shadow IT," where unauthorized applications and AI tools are being used within organizations without approval. Security teams struggle to keep up with the sheer volume of new applications and tools, and lack visibility into the entire application stack makes it challenging to identify potential threats. The use of shadow IT creates vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers, and embedded AI and OAuth permissions make it difficult for security teams to track access to sensitive data. The rise of "Shadow AI" has led to uncontrolled API connections, persistent OAuth tokens, and a lack of monitoring, audit logs, or privacy policies, resulting in sensitive data leaks and security breaches. Organizations can prevent shadow IT by implementing comprehensive discovery tools that detect unauthorized applications and AI tools, and adopting a culture of transparency and openness around IT security.
The world of Information Technology (IT) has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. The democratization of IT security, which was once controlled by IT teams, has now been taken over by individual employees who can install apps with just one click. This shift has led to a proliferation of "shadow IT," where unauthorized applications and AI tools are being used within organizations without the knowledge or approval of the security team.
The problem is two-fold. Firstly, it's becoming increasingly difficult for security teams to keep up with the sheer volume of new applications and tools that are being introduced into the organization. Secondly, the lack of visibility into the entire application stack is making it challenging for security teams to identify potential threats before they become a reality.
According to recent data from The Hacker News, which has over 1.9 million followers on Twitter alone, this issue is becoming more and more pressing. The news outlet reports that Wing, a cybersecurity platform, has discovered a staggering number of shadow IT instances across various organizations. This highlights the need for greater visibility into the application stack, as well as better tools to detect and prevent unauthorized applications and AI tools.
One of the primary concerns with shadow IT is its impact on an organization's security posture. When employees can install apps without approval, it creates a vulnerability that can be exploited by attackers. Additionally, the use of embedded AI and OAuth permissions makes it increasingly difficult for security teams to keep track of who has access to sensitive data.
The situation is further complicated by the rise of "Shadow AI," where AI tools are being used within organizations without proper oversight or approval. This has led to a proliferation of uncontrolled API connections, persistent OAuth tokens, and a lack of monitoring, audit logs, or privacy policies. As a result, sensitive data leaks, uncontrolled API connections, and other security breaches are becoming increasingly common.
So, how can organizations prevent this phenomenon? According to experts at Wing, the solution lies in implementing a comprehensive discovery tool that can detect shadow IT instances across the entire application stack. This includes identifying apps with embedded AI, AI agents, and Aetic AI, as well as detecting OAuth connections and browser extensions.
Moreover, organizations need to adopt a culture of transparency and openness when it comes to IT security. Employees should be educated on the risks associated with using unauthorized applications and AI tools, and security teams should be empowered to review and restrict access to sensitive data.
In conclusion, the shadow IT menace is a real and growing threat that requires immediate attention from organizations. By implementing effective solutions such as comprehensive discovery tools and adopting a culture of transparency, organizations can protect themselves against hidden threats and ensure the long-term security of their operations.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Shadow-IT-Menace-How-Democratization-of-IT-Security-Exposes-Organizations-to-Hidden-Threats-ehn.shtml
https://thehackernews.com/2025/08/the-wild-west-of-shadow-it.html
Published: Mon Aug 4 05:58:17 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
