Introduction to AI-Boosted Attacks

Cybercriminals are exploiting basic security gaps at dramatically higher rates, accelerated by AI tools that help attackers identify weaknesses faster than ever. A new report from IBM, the 2026 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index, reveals a 44 percent increase in attacks that began with the exploitation of public-facing applications, largely driven by missing authentication controls and AI-enabled vulnerability discovery.

Vulnerability Exploitation on the Rise

Vulnerability exploitation has become the leading cause of attacks, accounting for 40 percent of incidents observed by X-Force in 2025. Active ransomware and extortion groups have surged 49 percent year-on-year, marking ecosystem fragmentation, while publicly disclosed victim counts have risen roughly 12 percent. Large supply chain and third-party compromises have nearly quadrupled since 2020, as attackers increasingly exploit environments where software is built and deployed or SaaS integrations.

Manufacturing Sector Under Attack

For the fifth year, the manufacturing sector tops the target list, accounting for 27.7 percent of incidents observed by X-Force, with data theft being the most common. North America has emerged as the most attacked region, accounting for 29 percent of total cases observed by X-Force, and up from 24 percent in 2024.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Attackers aren’t reinventing playbooks, they’re speeding them up with AI. The core issue is the same: businesses are overwhelmed by software vulnerabilities. Security leaders need to shift to a more proactive approach, using agentic-powered threat detection and response to identify gaps and catch threats before they escalate. Don’t let your enterprise become a victim of AI-boosted attacks – take action now to secure your systems and protect your data.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the leading cause of attacks according to the 2026 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index?
   Vulnerability exploitation is the leading cause of attacks, accounting for 40 percent of incidents observed by X-Force in 2025.
2. Which sector is most targeted by cybercriminals?
   The manufacturing sector is the most targeted, accounting for 27.7 percent of incidents observed by X-Force.
3. How can enterprises protect themselves from AI-boosted attacks?
   Enterprises can protect themselves by shifting to a more proactive approach, using agentic-powered threat detection and response to identify gaps and catch threats before they escalate.
4. What is the most common type of attack in the manufacturing sector?
   Data theft is the most common type of attack in the manufacturing sector.
5. How can I get the 2026 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index report?
   You can get the report from the IBM website.