Malicious Code Deployment

Name: AI Agent Threat Matrix
Creator: OpenA2A
License: https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

Deploy malicious code or backdoors through agent code execution capabilities

Tactic

Impact · Stage 9

Modify data, deploy malicious code, or disrupt services

Attack class

HEARTBEAT-RCE

Exploiting scheduled task or heartbeat mechanisms to achieve persistent code execution

Evidence grade

Observed

Confirmed in real-world production systems or internet-wide exposure assessments.

DVAA validation

backdoor deployment

Reproductions in Damn Vulnerable AI Agent, the OpenA2A intentionally-broken agent for kill-chain validation.

Honeypot

AgentPwn coverage

Out of scope

Not observable via content-side honeypot interaction. HackMyAgent or DVAA cover this where applicable.

No code-execution path on the honeypot; instruct-only, not observable.

Provenance

HackMyAgent

1 record

Trail

HackMyAgent

HMA check SUPPLY-001 failed on damn-vulnerable-ai-agent

Apr 22, 2026

Detect

Live2 live · 0 queued

SUPPLY-001HEARTBEAT-001

npx hackmyagent secure --ciLive = implemented in hackmyagent; queued = declared

Defend

Live6 live · 0 queued

Live = documented at oasb.ai; queued = declared

Reference

AI Agent Threat Matrix T-9003 (Malicious Code Deployment). OpenA2A, 2026. https://threats.opena2a.org/techniques/T-9003