T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
SKILL.md:19- Finding
Unpinned and Questionable Third-Party Package Installation
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md, lines 19–22
Vulnerability Type: Supply-chain exposure through unpinned dependencies and a potentially unintended package name
Risk Level: MediumVulnerable Code:
bash pip install scrapy pip install flask pandas sqlalchemy pymysql pip install flashTechnical Analysis
The installation instructions retrieve mutable, unpinned packages from the package index. Consequently, the installed code may differ over time and cannot be verified against reviewed versions or cryptographic hashes.
The separate installation of
flashis particularly questionable because the documented application uses Flask, andflaskis already installed by the preceding command. Ifflashis a typo, obsolete dependency, or similarly named package, users may install unintended third-party code. This creates exposure to typosquatting, dependency confusion, package takeover, and upstream compromise.Python package installation can invoke package build backends or legacy setup mechanisms. A malicious package or release could therefore execute attacker-controlled code during installation. Installed packages may also execute malicious code later when imported by the crawler or web application.
Attack Path
- An attacker publishes, takes over, or compromises a package or release resolved by one of the unpinned names, particularly the questionable
flashdependency. - A user follows the Skill instructions and executes the documented
pip installcommands. pipresolves the current package release from the configured package index without an approved version or hash constraint.- Malicious code executes through the package build or installation process, or is installed for execution when subsequently imported.
- The payload operates with the permissions of the user running
pipand can access resources available to that account.
Impact Assessment
Success ...[truncated 552 chars]
- An attacker publishes, takes over, or compromises a package or release resolved by one of the unpinned names, particularly the questionable
- Remediation
View remediation
Remediation Suggestions
- Remove
pip install flashunless the package is genuinely required and its identity, ownership, source, and purpose have been verified. If Flask functionality was intended, retain only the correctly namedFlaskdependency. - Record all reviewed dependencies and transitive dependencies in a lock file with exact versions.
- Require cryptographic hashes, for example by using a generated requirements file with
pip install --require-hashes -r requirements.txt. - Configure an approved package index or internal artifact repository rather than relying implicitly on arbitrary public-index resolution.
- Audit dependency names for typosquatting and review package provenance, maintainers, release history, and source repository before approval.
- Run installation inside an isolated virtual environment or container under a non-privileged account.
- Add automated dependency vulnerability and integrity scanning to the release process and regularly update the lock file through a controlled review procedure.
- Remove
