T08 · Insecure Dependencies
Warning
- Location
- SKILL.md:112
- Finding
- Unpinned and Unnecessary Third-Party Dependency Installation## Vulnerability Details **File Location**: `SKILL.md`, lines 112–117 **Vulnerability Type**: Insecure third-party dependency installation **Risk Level**: Medium **Vulnerable Code**: ~~~markdown ## Dependencies ```bash pip install requests python-dateutil ``` ~~~ ### Technical Analysis The documented installation command retrieves mutable, unpinned versions of `requests` and `python-dateutil` from pip's configured package index. It does not use a lock file, exact version constraints, integrity hashes, or an explicitly trusted package source. Neither dependency is imported by `scripts/main.py`. The implementation instead uses Python standard-library modules such as `urllib.request` and `datetime`. Moreover, `SKILL.md` later states that no additional Python packages are required. The installation instruction therefore introduces avoidable supply-chain exposure without supporting the implemented functionality. This does not prove that either named package is malicious. The risk arises because the versions and artifacts installed in the future can differ from those available at audit time, and pip may use a user-configured or compromised package index. ### Attack Path 1. A user follows the documented dependency installation instructions. 2. pip resolves the latest matching package distributions using its configured indexes and mirrors. 3. An attacker compromises an upstream release, distribution artifact, package index, mirror, or local pip configuration. 4. pip downloads and installs the attacker-controlled distribution. 5. Malicious installation or package code executes in the installation environment with the privileges of the user running pip. ### Impact Assessment Successful exploitation can provide arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user performing the installation. The resulting scope may include access to that user's files, environment variables, credentials readable by the user, and ne ...[truncated 269 chars]
- Remediation
- ## Remediation Suggestions 1. Remove the `pip install requests python-dateutil` instruction because the current implementation does not use either package. 2. Reconcile the dependency documentation so it consistently states that the script uses only the Python standard library. 3. If third-party dependencies are introduced later, declare only packages actually imported by the implementation. 4. Pin each dependency to a reviewed exact version in a lock file. 5. Require cryptographic hashes for downloaded artifacts, such as with pip's `--require-hashes` option. 6. Use an explicitly trusted package index or controlled internal mirror. 7. Add automated dependency and artifact scanning to the release process. 8. Install dependencies in an isolated, least-privilege virtual environment rather than a privileged or system-wide environment.