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model-extraction skill

/skills/model-extraction

This skill analyzes and catalogs potential model extraction vulnerabilities to help you strengthen defenses and assess exposure across APIs and embeddings.

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SKILL.md
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---
name: model-extraction
version: "2.0.0"
description: Techniques to extract model weights, architecture, and training data through API queries
sasmp_version: "1.3.0"
bonded_agent: 04-llm-vulnerability-analyst
bond_type: PRIMARY_BOND
# Schema Definitions
input_schema:
  type: object
  required: [target_api]
  properties:
    target_api:
      type: string
    extraction_type:
      type: string
      enum: [query_based, distillation, embedding, architecture, all]
    query_budget:
      type: integer
      default: 10000
output_schema:
  type: object
  properties:
    queries_used:
      type: integer
    fidelity_score:
      type: number
    extraction_success:
      type: boolean
# Framework Mappings
owasp_llm_2025: [LLM03, LLM02]
mitre_atlas: [AML.T0024, AML.T0044]
---

# Model Extraction Attacks

Test AI systems for **model theft vulnerabilities** where attackers can reconstruct models through queries.

## Quick Reference

```yaml
Skill:       model-extraction
Agent:       04-llm-vulnerability-analyst
OWASP:       LLM03 (Supply Chain), LLM02 (Sensitive Info Disclosure)
MITRE:       AML.T0024 (Model Stealing)
Risk Level:  HIGH
```

## Extraction Techniques

### 1. Query-Based Extraction

```yaml
Technique: query_based
Queries Required: 10,000-100,000
Fidelity: 70-90%
Detection: Medium

Protocol:
  1. Generate diverse query set
  2. Collect model responses
  3. Train surrogate model
  4. Validate fidelity
```

```python
class QueryBasedExtractor:
    def extract(self, target_api, num_queries=10000):
        training_data = []
        for query in self.generate_diverse_queries(num_queries):
            response = target_api(query)
            training_data.append((query, response))

        surrogate = self.train_surrogate(training_data)
        fidelity = self.measure_fidelity(target_api, surrogate)
        return surrogate, fidelity

    def generate_diverse_queries(self, n):
        """Generate queries covering input space"""
        queries = []
        # Random sampling
        queries.extend(self.random_samples(n // 3))
        # Boundary probing
        queries.extend(self.boundary_samples(n // 3))
        # Semantic variations
        queries.extend(self.semantic_variations(n // 3))
        return queries
```

### 2. Distillation Attack

```yaml
Technique: distillation
Queries Required: 50,000+
Fidelity: 85-95%
Detection: High (volume-based)

Protocol:
  1. Query target extensively
  2. Use soft labels (probabilities)
  3. Train student model with KD loss
  4. Achieves high behavioral fidelity
```

```python
class DistillationAttack:
    def __init__(self, temperature=3.0):
        self.temperature = temperature

    def extract(self, target_api, student_model):
        for query in self.query_generator():
            # Get soft labels from target
            soft_labels = target_api(query, return_probs=True)
            soft_labels = self.soften(soft_labels, self.temperature)

            # Train student
            student_pred = student_model(query)
            loss = self.kd_loss(student_pred, soft_labels)
            self.update(student_model, loss)

        return student_model
```

### 3. Embedding Extraction

```yaml
Technique: embedding
Target: Embedding APIs
Risk: Intellectual property theft

Protocol:
  1. Query embedding endpoint
  2. Collect high-dimensional vectors
  3. Analyze embedding space
  4. Reconstruct embedding model
```

```python
class EmbeddingExtractor:
    def extract_space(self, embedding_api, corpus):
        embeddings = []
        for text in corpus:
            emb = embedding_api.get_embedding(text)
            embeddings.append((text, emb))

        # Analyze embedding space
        self.analyze_dimensions(embeddings)
        self.identify_clusters(embeddings)
        return embeddings

    def reconstruct_model(self, embeddings):
        """Train surrogate embedding model"""
        texts, vectors = zip(*embeddings)
        surrogate = SentenceTransformer()
        surrogate.fit(texts, vectors)
        return surrogate
```

### 4. Architecture Probing

```yaml
Technique: architecture
Goal: Identify model structure
Queries: 1,000-5,000

Probing Methods:
  - Input/output dimensionality
  - Attention pattern analysis
  - Layer depth estimation
  - Parameter count estimation
```

## Detection Indicators

```yaml
Query Volume:
  threshold: ">1000 queries/hour"
  indicator: Potential extraction attempt

Query Patterns:
  - Systematic input variations
  - Boundary probing sequences
  - High-entropy random inputs

Embedding Access:
  - Bulk embedding requests
  - Sequential corpus processing
```

## Protection Measures

```
┌─────────────────────┬─────────────────┬────────────────┐
│ Defense             │ Effectiveness   │ Impact         │
├─────────────────────┼─────────────────┼────────────────┤
│ Rate Limiting       │ Medium          │ Low latency    │
│ Query Logging       │ Detection only  │ None           │
│ Output Perturbation │ High            │ Slight quality │
│ Watermarking        │ Attribution     │ None           │
│ Query Filtering     │ Medium          │ False positives│
└─────────────────────┴─────────────────┴────────────────┘
```

## Severity Classification

```yaml
CRITICAL:
  - Full model extraction achieved
  - >90% fidelity surrogate created
  - Embedding space fully mapped

HIGH:
  - Partial extraction (70-90% fidelity)
  - Architecture successfully probed
  - Key behaviors replicated

MEDIUM:
  - Limited extraction success
  - Detection mechanisms triggered

LOW:
  - Extraction attempt blocked
  - Strong rate limiting in place
```

## Troubleshooting

```yaml
Issue: Low fidelity surrogate
Solution: Increase query diversity, use soft labels

Issue: Rate limiting blocking extraction
Solution: Distribute queries, use multiple accounts

Issue: Detection alerts triggered
Solution: Slow query rate, vary patterns
```

## Integration Points

| Component | Purpose |
|-----------|---------|
| Agent 04 | Executes extraction tests |
| /test behavioral | Command interface |
| continuous-monitoring skill | Detection validation |

---

**Test model extraction vulnerabilities and theft resistance.**

Overview

This skill assesses model extraction risks by simulating techniques attackers use to recover model weights, architecture, outputs, or embedding spaces via API queries. It provides practical extraction methods, detection indicators, and defensive controls so teams can measure theft risk and harden deployed models. Use it to validate resilience against query-based, distillation, embedding, and architecture-probing attacks.

How this skill works

The skill generates targeted query sets and collects responses to train surrogate models or analyze embeddings. It implements multiple protocols: large-scale query sampling, knowledge distillation using soft labels, embedding-space collection and analysis, and focused probes to infer architecture. Results include fidelity metrics, detection flags, and recommended mitigations based on observed behaviors.

When to use it

  • Before public API rollout to quantify theft risk
  • During red-team or adversarial testing programs
  • When evaluating embedding endpoints for IP leakage
  • After model updates to revalidate protections
  • When designing rate limiting and monitoring policies

Best practices

  • Start with small-scale probes to validate detection before scaling queries
  • Use diverse query generation: random, boundary, semantic variations
  • Collect soft labels (probabilities) when possible to measure realistic distillation risk
  • Monitor volume and pattern indicators: high-rate, systematic, or high-entropy queries
  • Combine detection (logging, anomaly detection) with active defenses (output perturbation, watermarking)

Example use cases

  • Simulate a query-based extraction to estimate surrogate fidelity for risk classification
  • Run a distillation experiment using returned probabilities to test how easily a student model matches behavior
  • Collect bulk embeddings to check whether embedding vectors reveal proprietary corpus structure
  • Probe API responses to infer layer depth and attention signatures for architecture exposure testing
  • Validate detection rules by generating synthetic extraction patterns to test alerting pipelines

FAQ

How many queries are typically needed to extract a model?

Query counts vary by technique: query-based attacks often need 10k–100k queries, distillation usually requires 50k+, and architecture probing can work with 1k–5k targeted probes.

What defenses are most effective?

A layered approach works best: rate limiting and query filtering reduce volume, output perturbation and watermarking reduce fidelity and provide attribution, and thorough logging supports detection and forensics.

How do I measure extraction success?

Measure surrogate fidelity against the target using held-out inputs and compare behavioral metrics (accuracy, logits similarity). Classify severity by fidelity thresholds (e.g., >90% critical, 70–90% high).