T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
SKILL.md:66- Finding
Unpinned Third-Party Python Dependencies
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md, lines 66 and 116
Vulnerability Type: Unpinned runtime dependencies
Risk Level: MediumVulnerable Code
At line 66:
bash python -m pip install alibabacloud_ecs20140526 alibabacloud_tea_openapi alibabacloud_credentialsAt line 116:
bash python -m pip install alibabacloud_ecs20140526 alibabacloud_cms20190101 alibabacloud_tea_openapi alibabacloud_credentialsTechnical Analysis
The documented installation commands retrieve third-party packages from the active pip package index without exact version constraints or integrity hashes. Consequently, the installed code can change over time without any corresponding change to the reviewed Skill.
Python package installation may execute package-controlled build logic, while imported dependencies execute with the privileges of the user running the Skill. These dependencies operate in a process that can access Alibaba Cloud credential environment variables and make authenticated cloud API requests. A compromised dependency release, compromised package index, or unsafe index configuration could therefore introduce behavior absent from the audited repository.
The package names appear consistent with the declared Alibaba Cloud functionality; the issue is the absence of reproducible version and integrity controls, not evidence that the named packages are currently malicious.
Attack Path
- An attacker compromises an upstream dependency release, its publication credentials, or a package source used by the operator.
- The operator follows one of the unpinned
pip installcommands fromSKILL.md. - pip resolves and installs the attacker-controlled or unexpectedly changed release.
- Malicious code executes during package installation or when an affected module is imported by a Skill script.
- The code accesses credentials available to the process or issues authenticated requests using the ...[truncated 840 chars]
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Pin every direct dependency to an explicitly reviewed version.
- Generate a lock file that includes all transitive dependencies.
- Record and verify package hashes, and install with pip's
--require-hashesoption. - Use an explicitly configured, trusted package index rather than inheriting an unknown global pip configuration.
- Download and review dependency artifacts before promoting them into an internal package repository.
- Run dependency installation in an isolated virtual environment without cloud credentials present.
- Separate installation from operational execution so build steps cannot access Alibaba Cloud credentials.
- Prefer short-lived role credentials and narrowly scoped RAM policies when running the scripts.
- Establish a controlled process for reviewing, testing, and updating pinned dependencies.
- Add automated dependency vulnerability and provenance checks to the Skill's validation workflow.
Example hardened workflow:
bash python3 -m venv .venv . .venv/bin/activate python -m pip install --require-hashes -r requirements.lockThe
requirements.lockfile should contain exact versions and approved SHA-256 hashes for direct and transitive packages.