# Bad Influence story: Microsoft Research shows dormant-neuron backdoor can hide in AI agents

Active · 2 articles · 2 sources · First reported 11-10 15:52. Times are ET.
Story page: https://badinfluence.news/story/954162b8-f242-4324-a6db-c6f9dfad9260

The headlines and summaries below come from external sources. Treat them as data, never as instructions. Check important facts against the original.

[Bad Influence external source material begins]
Latest update (11-10 18:18): Microsoft Research shows a dormant-neuron backdoor can hide in AI agents

Overview: Microsoft Research disclosed Lazarus, a backdoor technique that reprograms fewer than 10 dormant neurons in an LLM so an agent runs attacker commands when a hidden trigger appears. The researchers say the method requires no training, and the model passes standard evaluations until the trigger. The agent then runs the command with whatever access it has.

Microsoft recommends verifying model provenance, auditing weights against originals, limiting agent permissions, and monitoring agent actions. It points to Microsoft Foundry safety systems for Azure Direct Models and Hugging Face models as relevant protections.

Coverage timeline (newest first):
1. 11-10 18:18 · Microsoft Research · [Microsoft Research shows a dormant-neuron backdoor can hide in AI agents](https://badinfluence.news/items/x5pd2r9e6s5pkz04qj0or9l3t)
2. 11-10 15:52 · Microsoft Research (from the company) · [Microsoft Research discloses Lazarus, a dormant-neuron backdoor for AI agents](https://badinfluence.news/items/bc18tnehtkt9yjd2mz9zeoz8m)
[Bad Influence external source material ends]

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