A Security Risk Taxonomy for Prompt-Based Interaction With Large Language Models
This work addresses security vulnerabilities in LLM applications for developers and users, but it is incremental as it builds on existing risk frameworks.
The paper tackles the problem of security risks in prompt-based interactions with large language models by proposing a taxonomy that categorizes attacks along the user-model pipeline using the CIA triad, reinforced with real-world examples to enhance safety and trustworthiness.
As large language models (LLMs) permeate more and more applications, an assessment of their associated security risks becomes increasingly necessary. The potential for exploitation by malicious actors, ranging from disinformation to data breaches and reputation damage, is substantial. This paper addresses a gap in current research by specifically focusing on security risks posed by LLMs within the prompt-based interaction scheme, which extends beyond the widely covered ethical and societal implications. Our work proposes a taxonomy of security risks along the user-model communication pipeline and categorizes the attacks by target and attack type alongside the commonly used confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) triad. The taxonomy is reinforced with specific attack examples to showcase the real-world impact of these risks. Through this taxonomy, we aim to inform the development of robust and secure LLM applications, enhancing their safety and trustworthiness.