T08 · Insecure Dependencies
Warning
- Location
- README.md:23
- Finding
- Unpinned Third-Party Package Execution During Installation## Vulnerability Details **File Location**: `README.md:23-26` **Vulnerability Type**: Unpinned package execution and supply-chain exposure **Risk Level**: Medium ### Vulnerable Code ```bash npx skills add alexpolonsky/agent-skill-maccabi-pharm-search ``` ### Technical Analysis The documented installation procedure invokes the third-party `skills` package through `npx` without specifying a reviewed version or integrity value. If the package is not already installed locally, `npx` can retrieve its current release from the configured package registry and execute it. Consequently, the code executed during installation is not limited to the content audited in this repository. A later package release, compromised publisher account, or compromised package distribution channel could alter the effective installation payload without any changes to this project. No evidence indicates that the currently published dependency is malicious. The vulnerability is the absence of version and integrity controls around executable third-party installation tooling. ### Attack Path 1. An attacker compromises the package publisher, registry distribution path, or another component responsible for the package resolved as `skills`. 2. The attacker publishes a modified release containing malicious installation behavior. 3. A user follows the README and runs the unpinned `npx skills add ...` command. 4. `npx` resolves and downloads the attacker-controlled package release. 5. The malicious package executes with the privileges of the user running the installation command. ### Impact Assessment Successful exploitation permits code execution under the installing user's account. Depending on that account's privileges and environment, the malicious installer could read or modify user-accessible files, steal credentials available to the process, alter installed agent skills, or establish persistence. The project itself does not request elevated pri ...[truncated 224 chars]
- Remediation
- ## Remediation Suggestions - Pin the installer package to a specifically reviewed version, for example by using the equivalent of `npx skills@<reviewed-version> ...`. - Use package-manager integrity and lockfile controls where the installation workflow supports them. - Document how users can verify the package name, version, publisher, and integrity before execution. - Prefer the documented Git clone installation method as the default because it permits users to inspect and pin a specific repository commit. - If `npx` remains supported, advise users not to run the installation command with administrator or root privileges. - Periodically review the pinned installer release before updating the documented version.
