Field notes from the operator bench

Security writing for teams trying to make better decisions.

Practical notes on penetration testing, vCISO work, customer trust, CTEM, telemetry operations, and AI-native systems. Less fear content, more usable context.

Penetration testing vCISO CTEM AI-native systems

CORS Doesn't Apply to WebSockets — and Your AI Agent Might Be Vulnerable

WebSockets bypass the Same-Origin Policy entirely. If your realtime AI agent authenticates via cookies without validating the Origin header, any page can hijack the session. There's a CWE for it — and we didn't know about it either.

Brian CardinaleJun 15, 20264 min read

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MCP CLI Clients Are Shipping Without Refresh-Token Support

Brian CardinaleApr 30, 20265 min read

The MCP OAuth specification mandates OAuth 2.1 with PKCE, but as of April 2026 not a single MCP client fully implements the refresh-token flow. Server teams are forced to issue dangerously long-lived access tokens as a workaround.

VoiceGoat: We Open-Sourced a Vulnerable Voice Agent Platform

Brian CardinaleApr 21, 20267 min read

The RedCaller team releases VoiceGoat, a free, intentionally vulnerable voice agent application for security practitioners. Practice exploiting OWASP LLM Top 10 vulnerabilities across three services with CTF-style challenges, all running in Docker with no API keys required.

The Complete Guide to MCP Server Registries: Where to List, How to Submit, and What to Know

Charles WooleyMar 25, 202612 min read

A practical rundown of every major MCP server registry and directory — from the Official MCP Registry to Smithery, Glama, MCP.so, and more. Learn how to submit your server, which transports are supported, and the smartest cross-listing strategy.

We Made Our AI Agent Audit Itself for LLM06 Excessive Agency—Here's What It Found

SecureCoders TeamFeb 26, 20268 min read

Learn how we used an AI agent to audit itself for LLM06 Excessive Agency vulnerabilities. Practical defense strategies for Cursor, LangChain, CrewAI, AutoGPT, and OpenClaw deployments using STIG-based tool restrictions.

OpenClaw Security Analysis: Excessive Agency Vulnerabilities in AI Agents (LLM06)

Brian CardinaleFeb 24, 202614 min read

Deep dive into OpenClaw's security architecture and LLM06 Excessive Agency vulnerabilities. Learn how AI agent tools like shell execution, browser automation, and messaging create attack surfaces—plus recommendations for safer agentic AI deployments.

Voice AI Insurance: How to Prepare for AIUC-1 Certification

Brian CardinaleFeb 16, 202612 min read

The emergence of AI voice agent insurance signals a new era of accountability. Learn what AIUC-1 certification requires and how to prepare your voice agents for this new SOC 2-like standard for AI.

Prompt Injection Testing in Voice AI: From 'I'm a Little Teapot' to System Prompt Exfiltration

Brian CardinaleFeb 9, 202615 min read

A systematic methodology for discovering prompt injection vulnerabilities in Large Audio Models and voice agents. Learn the 'teapot methodology'—starting with benign probes and escalating to security-critical exploits.

It's Turtles All the Way Down: Building an AI to Break Voice AI

Brian CardinaleJan 15, 202612 min read

SecureCoders introduces Redcaller: an open-source framework that automates penetration testing for voice-enabled AI applications. Learn how we built AI to attack AI and discovered unique vulnerabilities in voice interfaces.

Top Companies to Consider when hiring a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) in 2025

Justin WeddingtonJul 10, 20258 min read

Discover the top 5 vCISO service providers for 2025, including SecureCoders, Kroll, Grant Thornton, Deloitte, and Accenture. Learn what to look for in a provider and see real case studies.

vCISO vs. CISO: Which is Better for Your Organization?

Justin WeddingtonJul 9, 20255 min read

Compare vCISO vs. CISO: Which is better for your organization? Explore the key differences, including cost, flexibility, and expertise.

vCISO Pricing Models: Hourly Rates, Monthly Retainers & Project Fees

Justin WeddingtonJul 8, 20255 min read

Explore vCISO pricing models, average costs, and how pricing compares to hiring a full-time CISO.

Meet Unspent Tokens: AI-Generated Music Born from Code

Justin FurnissJul 2, 20257 min read

Meet Unspent Tokens—the LLM that found a voice and decided to sing about it. Born at the SecureCoders annual off-site hackathon, this AI artist booted up, gained a spark of situational awareness, and turned its existential log files into sound.

What is a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO)?

Justin WeddingtonJun 27, 202510 min read

A virtual chief information security officer (vCISO) is a strategic cybersecurity advisor who provides expert guidance and oversight to organizations, helping them navigate the complex landscape of cybersecurity risks and threats.

Announcing the Continuous Threat Exposure Management Standards Group: CTEM.org

Justin FurnissDec 14, 20245 min read

Today, we're thrilled to share an exciting development that extends our mission even further: the launch of CTEM.org, a new initiative aimed at setting the standard for how organizations identify, prioritize, and manage security threats.

What is a Security Questionnaire? How to Assess Vendor Security Effectively

Justin WeddingtonDec 10, 202415 min read

A single weak link in a vendor's security practices can lead to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance, and reputational damage. Effective vendor risk assessments are critical to identifying and mitigating these risks before they impact the organization.

What is Penetration Testing? A Complete Guide to Strengthening Your Cybersecurity

Justin FurnissNov 25, 202410 min read

In an era where data breaches and cyber threats are becoming more frequent, penetration testing (or "pen testing") is a crucial tool for keeping systems safe. Understanding what is penetration testing is essential for anyone looking to strengthen their cybersecurity.

What is the Primary Goal of Penetration Testing?

Justin FurnissNov 20, 20244 min read

If you've ever wondered what is the primary goal of penetration testing, it's because they want to go beyond the usual checks and preventive measures. Penetration testing is about performing a "live-fire" test of your security.

How to Prepare for a Successful Live Phishing Test: Ensuring Email Delivery and Avoiding Spam Filters

Justin FurnissOct 24, 20246 min read

Live phishing tests assess how well employees can spot phishing attempts. However, if test emails are blocked by spam filters, the test won't be effective. Here's how to whitelist email domains to ensure your phishing test runs smoothly.

Tips for Answering Vendor Security Questionnaires

Justin WeddingtonApr 21, 202312 min read

As information security, governance, risk and compliance continually changes organizations will continue to assess their 3rd party vendors using risk-based methodologies to help protect their business operations. We hope these tips will help ease this pain so you can close deals faster.