T05 · Unauthorized Access and Privilege Escalation
- Location
SKILL.md:199- Finding
Unrestricted Access to an Authentication Secret in the Environment File
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md, lines 199–207
Vulnerability Type: Sensitive credential access without disclosure controls
Risk Level: MediumRelevant instruction excerpt (English translation):
markdown 4. **AUTH_CODE**: If the API returns 401, check the `AUTH_CODE` configuration in `.env`. | Error | Cause | Resolution | |------|------|----------| | API returns 401 | AUTH_CODE is required | Obtain AUTH_CODE from `.env` |Technical Analysis
The Skill instructs the Agent to retrieve
AUTH_CODEdirectly from the WeWe RSS.envfile when the local API returns HTTP 401. Environment files commonly contain authentication credentials and other unrelated secrets. Reading such a file places its contents within the Agent's execution context, where they may be exposed through generated responses, tool logs, debugging output, or conversation history.The instruction does not define least-privilege handling requirements, limit access to the specific variable through a protected interface, prohibit displaying the value, or require redaction. Although the audited file does not explicitly instruct the Agent to transmit the credential externally, unrestricted retrieval of a plaintext authentication secret creates an avoidable credential-exposure risk.
Attack Path
- The WeWe RSS endpoint returns HTTP 401, either because authentication is enabled, the request omits credentials, or the service is configured to reject the request.
- The Agent follows the troubleshooting instructions in
SKILL.md. - The Agent opens the WeWe RSS
.envfile and retrievesAUTH_CODE. - The secret enters the Agent's context and may subsequently appear in command output, diagnostic logs, conversation history, or a user-facing response.
- A party with access to those records could reuse the exposed value to authenticate to services protected by the same credential.
No external exfiltration, privilege ...[truncated 656 chars]
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Remove the instruction directing the Agent to open
.envand retrieve the plaintext credential. - Ask the user or administrator to verify that
AUTH_CODEis configured without revealing its value. - Supply credentials through a dedicated secret manager or protected environment-variable interface that does not expose the secret to conversational output.
- If the Agent must use the value, retrieve only the named variable rather than reading the complete
.envfile. - Explicitly prohibit printing, logging, returning, or persisting the credential.
- Redact authentication headers and secret values from tool output, exceptions, and debugging logs.
- Use a narrowly scoped credential, rotate it after suspected exposure, and avoid reusing it for other services.
- Prefer a health-check or authentication-status endpoint that can diagnose HTTP 401 responses without requiring the Agent to inspect secret-bearing files.
- Remove the instruction directing the Agent to open
