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SecureCAI: Injection-Resilient LLM Assistants for Cybersecurity Operations

Authors: Mohammed Himayath Ali, Mohammed Aqib Abdullah, Mohammed Mudassir Uddin, Shahnawaz Alam

Published: 2026-01-12

arXiv ID: 2601.07835v1

Added to Library: 2026-01-13 04:00 UTC

Red Teaming

📄 Abstract

Large Language Models have emerged as transformative tools for Security Operations Centers, enabling automated log analysis, phishing triage, and malware explanation; however, deployment in adversarial cybersecurity environments exposes critical vulnerabilities to prompt injection attacks where malicious instructions embedded in security artifacts manipulate model behavior. This paper introduces SecureCAI, a novel defense framework extending Constitutional AI principles with security-aware guardrails, adaptive constitution evolution, and Direct Preference Optimization for unlearning unsafe response patterns, addressing the unique challenges of high-stakes security contexts where traditional safety mechanisms prove insufficient against sophisticated adversarial manipulation. Experimental evaluation demonstrates that SecureCAI reduces attack success rates by 94.7% compared to baseline models while maintaining 95.1% accuracy on benign security analysis tasks, with the framework incorporating continuous red-teaming feedback loops enabling dynamic adaptation to emerging attack strategies and achieving constitution adherence scores exceeding 0.92 under sustained adversarial pressure, thereby establishing a foundation for trustworthy integration of language model capabilities into operational cybersecurity workflows and addressing a critical gap in current approaches to AI safety within adversarial domains.

🔍 Key Points

  • Introduction of SecureCAI, a defense framework specifically designed to mitigate prompt injection attacks in cybersecurity operations using Large Language Models (LLMs).
  • Demonstration of a 94.7% reduction in attack success rates while maintaining 95.1% accuracy on benign security analysis tasks, showcasing the effectiveness of adapted safety mechanisms.
  • Incorporation of continuous red-teaming feedback loops and adaptive constitution evolution to dynamically respond to emerging attack strategies, enhancing operational resilience.
  • Development of a Direct Preference Optimization (DPO) training methodology for unlearning unsafe response patterns, reinforcing secure model behavior without sacrificing task performance.
  • Establishment of security-aware constitutional principles that govern LLM behavior tailored specifically for adversarial contexts, significantly different from general-purpose AI safety approaches.

💡 Why This Paper Matters

The paper presents significant advancements in securing LLMs against adversarial manipulation in cybersecurity contexts, with the SecureCAI framework demonstrating a successful integration of safety mechanisms tailored for high-stakes environments. By reducing prompt injection vulnerabilities while ensuring high accuracy on legitimate tasks, this work lays a foundation for the safe and effective use of LLMs in operational security settings, addressing an urgent need in AI safety and cybersecurity.

🎯 Why It's Interesting for AI Security Researchers

This paper is crucial for AI security researchers as it addresses the vulnerabilities that arise when deploying LLMs in adversarial environments. The proposed methodologies, including continuous adaptation and security-aware principles, present innovative solutions to counteract specific exploits that threaten operational integrity. Furthermore, the empirical results provide a valuable benchmark for evaluating LLM robustness, making it a significant contribution to the discussion on AI safety in security applications.

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