OpenAI has disclosed a data breach stemming from Mixpanel, a third-party analytics provider used to track API dashboard activity. The incident did not involve unauthorized access to OpenAI’s own systems; instead, an attacker compromised Mixpanel and exported metadata linked to API users. No passwords, API keys, chat data, or payment information were exposed.
The compromised data consisted solely of account-level metadata commonly collected by analytics tools. This included names, email addresses, browser details, operating systems, location information, referring websites, and internal user or organization IDs. While the data does not grant direct access to accounts, it could increase the risk of targeted phishing attempts.
In response, OpenAI immediately removed Mixpanel from its production environment and initiated a detailed review to determine what was affected. The company has notified all impacted API users, launched a broader audit of its third-party vendors, and advised users to enable multi-factor authentication and remain vigilant against suspicious messages.
Importantly, everyday ChatGPT users were not impacted by the breach; the exposure was limited exclusively to those interacting through the API platform. Mixpanel has acknowledged the incident, stating that the attacker accessed one of its service environments and exported data belonging to several customers, including OpenAI. The company reports that the vulnerability has been resolved and that external security specialists have been engaged.
The breach highlights the ongoing risks associated with reliance on external service providers. As Wire CEO Ben Schilz noted, incidents like this underscore the need for stronger “digital sovereignty,” ensuring organizations maintain control over their data instead of depending too heavily on third-party systems. While OpenAI’s swift response helped contain the fallout, affected API users should stay alert for phishing attempts and ensure their accounts—and associated email addresses—are protected with two-factor authentication.
