The hidden dangers of ChatGPT’s integrations with Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive

Since launching ChatGPT in 2022, OpenAI has defied expectations with a steady stream of product announcements and enhancements. One such announcement came on May 16, 2024, and for most consumers, it probably felt innocuous. Titled “Improvements to data analysis in ChatGPT,” the post outlines how users can add files directly from Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. Pretty great, right? Maybe.

‍

Yes, tools like ChatGPT are transforming the way businesses operate, offering unparalleled efficiency and productivity. But while the promise of convenience is significant, it also brings a host of potential security risks: connectors like these inevitably lead to a wider attack surface, as these applications often require access to environments where highly sensitive personal data and organizational data is held.

‍

The powerful promise of integration

When you connect ChatGPT to your cloud-based storage service, you can add them to your prompts directly, rather than downloading files to your desktop and then uploading them to ChatGPT. ChatGPT’s integration with Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive allows users to access and manipulate documents, spreadsheets, and other files directly through conversational AI. Of course, this can streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and reduce the time spent on routine tasks. 

‍

‍

Understanding the risks of connecting ChatGPT to Google Drive and OneDrive

When you connect your organization’s Google Drive or OneDrive account, you grant ChatGPT extensive permissions for not only your personal files, but resources across your entire shared drive. As you might imagine, the benefits of this kind of extensive integration come with an array of cybersecurity challenges.

‍

1. Data privacy concerns

When ChatGPT accesses sensitive data stored in Google Drive or OneDrive, it raises serious privacy concerns. This data might include personal information, confidential business documents, or proprietary research. Any breach or misuse of this information could lead to severe consequences, including identity theft, corporate espionage, and legal liabilities.

‍

2. Unauthorized access

Integrating ChatGPT with cloud storage services necessitates granting access permissions. If these permissions are not managed correctly, it could lead to unauthorized access. Hackers could exploit vulnerabilities in the integration process to gain access to sensitive data. Once they have access, they could manipulate, steal, or delete critical files, causing significant disruption to business operations.

‍

3. Phishing and social engineering attacks

AI-driven integrations could become a target for phishing and social engineering attacks. Cybercriminals might attempt to trick users into granting access to their cloud storage or to execute malicious commands through ChatGPT. Given the conversational nature of ChatGPT, users might not always recognize the subtle manipulations used by attackers.

‍

4. Data leakage

AI systems like ChatGPT learn from the data they process. If not adequately secured, there is a risk of data leakage where sensitive information could inadvertently be shared or exposed. This is particularly concerning in industries like healthcare, finance, and legal services, where confidentiality is paramount.

‍

5. Compliance and regulatory issues

Integrating ChatGPT with cloud services must comply with various regulatory standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA. Ensuring compliance is challenging but crucial. Any mishandling of data can lead to hefty fines and damage to a company’s reputation.

‍

How to investigate ChatGPT activity in Google Workspace

In Google Workspace, there are a couple ways to identify and investigate activity associated with the ChatGPT connection.

‍

From Google Workspace’s Admin Console, navigate to Reporting > Audit and investigation > Drive log events. Here you’ll see a list of Google Drive resources accessed.

‍

‍

You can also investigate the activity via API calls under Reporting→Audit and investigation→ Oauth log events.

‍

‍

How Nudge Security can streamline your investigation

Nudge Security surfaces your entire organization’s OAuth grants, such as those granted to ChatGPT, within a filterable OAuth dashboard that includes grant type (sign-in or integration), activity, and risk insights. Filter by category to see all grants associated with AI tools:

‍

‍

To drill down into the grant, click to open a detail screen, where you can review a risk profile, access details, scopes granted, and more:

‍

‍

If you’d like to either nudge the creator of the grant to take a certain action, or immediately revoke the grant, users can utilize the icons at the top of the page to do so.

‍

Finally, you can set up a custom rule to ensure that you are notified when a user at your organization creates an OAuth grant for ChatGPT—or any other app for that matter.

‍

‍

Balancing productivity with security

While the integration of ChatGPT with Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive offers immense potential, it also opens the door to significant security risks. Organizations must approach these integrations with a clear understanding of the potential threats and implement comprehensive security measures to mitigate them. 

‍

Nudge Security provides the visibility as well as the toolset that allow businesses to harness the benefits of AI-driven productivity without compromising on data security. Start a free, 14-day trial for a close look at your org’s OAuth grants.