A newly discovered single-click Copilot exploit is raising fresh concerns about the security of AI tools in business environments. Security researchers at Varonis have uncovered a technique called Reprompt that allows attackers to steal sensitive information from Microsoft Copilot with just one click, bypassing typical red flags such as phishing emails or malicious websites.
For business owners who rely on AI to boost productivity, this Microsoft Copilot vulnerability is a reminder that convenience can also introduce new AI security risks. If your team uses Microsoft Copilot for everyday tasks, this single-click exploit could quietly expose things like HR conversations, internal pricing discussions, or notes from leadership meetings without anyone noticing right away.
That’s not a theoretical risk; it’s a practical one.
How the Reprompt Attack Works
This attack is a type of prompt injection, meaning attackers sneak instructions into data in a way that confuses the AI. In other words, AI tools like Copilot can’t tell the difference between legitimate questions and hidden commands mixed into data.
In this case, attackers craft a URL that loads Copilot with a malicious starter prompt. It then “reprompts” the AI, step by step, to dig up and share sensitive data such as names, locations, or confidential notes. This stealthy data exfiltration slips past normal defenses because it doesn’t trigger any pop-up alerts or show unusual behavior in your browser.
What Makes This Single-Click Exploit Different?
Most people think cyberattacks require trick emails, fake login pages, or shady links. The Reprompt attack flips that assumption on its head.
Instead of hiding malicious instructions in emails or on infected websites, this single-click exploit embeds harmful prompts in content that appears normal and trustworthy. Once a user clicks, Microsoft Copilot can be tricked into treating attacker instructions as legitimate commands.
Even if your team is careful about phishing, this type of single-click Copilot exploit bypasses many traditional defenses.
Risks include:
- Internal documents being pulled into the wrong chat
- Customer data showing up where it shouldn’t
- Proprietary information being copied or summarized without approval
- Compliance headaches if regulated data is involved
Microsoft patched this specific flaw immediately, so updating your tools helps. But the bigger lesson is that AI security risks like this aren’t going away; they’re simply evolving.
Smart Steps to Shield Your Business Right Now
The single-click Copilot exploit shows how quickly AI tools can become attack vectors if we’re not vigilant. By understanding the Reprompt attack and taking simple precautions, you can keep using powerful AI like Microsoft Copilot.
Those precautions include:
- Train your team to pause before clicking any link, even official-looking ones.
- Limiting what you share in AI chats; use placeholders or vague summaries when possible.
- Enabling Microsoft’s security features, like conditional access or data loss prevention policies for Copilot.
- Monitoring and restricting AI usage to block unusual data flows.
- Keeping everything up to date and regularly checking for patches.
Most businesses still assume AI tools are “safe by default.” That assumption is starting to look outdated.
This single-click Copilot exploit shows that attackers are evolving fast. Prompt injection and reprompt attacks highlight a growing AI security risk that every business owner should take seriously.