# AutoBnB-RAG: Enhancing Multi-Agent Incident Response with Retrieval-Augmented Generation

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.13118 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.13118/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Placed in Privacy and security of RAG, one of 15 directions in Retrieval-augmented generation.
- Builds on 21 of its 43 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 18 Aug 2025.

## Placed in

- Retrieval-augmented generation / [Privacy and security of RAG](https://mlsanity.com/rag/privacy-and-security-of-rag/)
- LLM agents and tool use / [Agent threats, guardrails and governance](https://mlsanity.com/agents/agent-threats-guardrails-and-governance/)

## Builds on (most cited first, 21 of 21)

- [GPT-4 Technical Report](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.08774/) (2023)
- [Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Knowledge-Intensive NLP Tasks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.11401/) (2020)
- [Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Large Language Models: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.10997/) (2023)
- [Large Language Model based Multi-Agents: A Survey of Progress and Challenges](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.01680/) (2024)
- [A Comprehensive Overview of Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.06435/) (2023)
- [Large Language Models for Cyber Security: A Systematic Literature Review](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.04760/) (2024)
- [MechAgents: Large language model multi-agent collaborations can solve mechanics problems, generate new data, and integrate knowledge](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2311.08166/) (2023)
- [CyberMetric: A Benchmark Dataset based on Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Evaluating LLMs in Cybersecurity Knowledge](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.07688/) (2024)
- [SecQA: A Concise Question-Answering Dataset for Evaluating Large Language Models in Computer Security](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.15838/) (2023)
- [Large Language Models in Cybersecurity: State-of-the-Art](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.00891/) (2024)
- [ColaCare: Enhancing Electronic Health Record Modeling through Large Language Model-Driven Multi-Agent Collaboration](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.02551/) (2024)
- [InvAgent: A Large Language Model based Multi-Agent System for Inventory Management in Supply Chains](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.11384/) (2024)
- [CyberRAG: An Agentic RAG cyber attack classification and reporting tool](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.02424/) (2025)
- [A RAG-Based Question-Answering Solution for Cyber-Attack Investigation and Attribution](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.06272/) (2024)
- [Ontology-Aware RAG for Improved Question-Answering in Cybersecurity Education](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2412.14191/) (2024)
- [EconWebArena: Benchmarking Autonomous Agents on Economic Tasks in Realistic Web Environments](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.08136/) (2025)
- [Employing LLMs for Incident Response Planning and Review](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.01271/) (2024)
- [MoRSE: Bridging the Gap in Cybersecurity Expertise with Retrieval Augmented Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.15748/) (2024)
- [GenDFIR: Advancing Cyber Incident Timeline Analysis Through Retrieval Augmented Generation and Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.02572/) (2024)
- [CRMAgent: A Multi-Agent LLM System for E-Commerce CRM Message Template Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.08325/) (2025)
- [Multi-Agent Collaboration in Incident Response with Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2412.00652/) (2024)

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [Towards trustworthy agentic AI: a comprehensive survey of safety, robustness, privacy, and system security](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.23989/) (2026)
- [Shall We Play a Game? Language Models for Open-ended Wargames](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.17192/) (2025)
- [AgentBnB: A Browser-Based Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise with Large Language Model Support and Retrieval-Aligned Scaffolding](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.00265/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Incident response (IR) requires fast, coordinated, and well-informed decision-making to contain and mitigate cyber threats. While large language models (LLMs) have shown promise as autonomous agents in simulated IR settings, their reasoning is often limited by a lack of access to external knowledge. In this work, we present AutoBnB-RAG, an extension of the AutoBnB framework that incorporates retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) into multi-agent incident response simulations. Built on the Backdoors & Breaches (B&B) tabletop game environment, AutoBnB-RAG enables agents to issue retrieval queries and incorporate external evidence during collaborative investigations. We introduce two retrieval settings: one grounded in curated technical documentation (RAG-Wiki), and another using narrative-style incident reports (RAG-News). We evaluate performance across eight team structures, including newly introduced argumentative configurations designed to promote critical reasoning. To validate practical utility, we also simulate real-world cyber incidents based on public breach reports, demonstrating AutoBnB-RAG's ability to reconstruct complex multi-stage attacks. Our results show that retrieval augmentation improves decision quality and success rates across diverse organizational models. This work demonstrates the value of integrating retrieval mechanisms into LLM-based multi-agent systems for cybersecurity decision-making.
