# ServiceNow's Virtual Agent Vulnerability Shows Why AI Security Needs Traditional AppSec Foundations

DevFeed: [ServiceNow's Virtual Agent Vulnerability Shows Why AI Security Needs Traditional AppSec Foundations](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/servicenow-s-virtual-agent-vulnerability-shows-why-ai-security-needs-traditional-appsec-foundations-8094.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://snyk.io/blog/servicenow-virtual-agent-vulnerability/>)

Author: Stephen Thoemmes

Published: 2026-01-14T05:00:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Blog RSS Feed | Snyk](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/blog-rss-feed-snyk.md>)

Topics: [Application Security](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/application-security.md>), [Vulnerabilities](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/vulnerabilities.md>), [AI Bots](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai-bots.md>), [MFA](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/mfa.md>)

Tags: [agentic-ai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/agentic-ai.md>), [ai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai.md>), [ai-agent](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai-agent.md>), [ai-security](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai-security.md>), [americas](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/americas.md>), [api](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/api.md>), [application-security](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/application-security.md>), [authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/authentication.md>), [awareness](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/awareness.md>), [blog](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/blog.md>), [ci-cd](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ci-cd.md>), [developer](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developer.md>), [devops](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/devops.md>), [devrel](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/devrel.md>), [executive](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/executive.md>), [interest](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/interest.md>), [mfa](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mfa.md>), [secrets](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/secrets.md>), [security](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/security.md>), [security-labs](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/security-labs.md>), [snyk-code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/snyk-code.md>), [snyk-platform](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/snyk-platform.md>), [vulnerability](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/vulnerability.md>), [vulnerability-insights](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/vulnerability-insights.md>)

## AI overview

A critical ServiceNow Virtual Agent vulnerability illustrates how agentic AI can amplify traditional application-security failures. The reported takeover chain involved hardcoded API credentials, weak identity verification, and excessive privileges, underscoring the importance of authentication and authorization controls.

## Source excerpt

The critical ServiceNow Virtual Agent vulnerability highlights a vital lesson: securing agentic AI requires a return to traditional AppSec foundations. While AI can amplify risks, the root causes often stem from classic failures in authentication and authorization.