T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
SKILL.md:15- Finding
Unpinned Third-Party Dependencies Create Supply-Chain Exposure
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md, line 15
Vulnerability Type: Unpinned third-party dependency installation
Risk Level: MediumVulnerable Code
bash pip install python-pptx pillowThe installed packages are imported by the application in
ppt_maker.py:python from pptx import Presentation from PIL import ImageTechnical Analysis
The installation command does not constrain either dependency to a reviewed version and does not verify package integrity through cryptographic hashes. Consequently, installation results can change over time and depend on the package index configured in the user's environment.
The package names are consistent with the application's documented purpose, and the reviewed project contains no evidence of typosquatting, an intentionally malicious package, or an untrusted custom package index. Nevertheless, an upstream package compromise, malicious release, package-index compromise, or unsafe local index configuration could cause attacker-controlled code to be installed.
Python packages may execute code during installation or when imported. Because
ppt_maker.pyimports both dependencies during startup, malicious code introduced into either dependency would be reachable when the application runs.Attack Path
- An attacker compromises an upstream dependency release, the package index, or the package source selected by the user's pip configuration.
- The user follows the documented command in
SKILL.md. - Pip resolves and installs the attacker-controlled dependency version because no approved version or integrity hash is specified.
- The user starts
ppt_maker.py. - The script imports
pptxandPIL, triggering any malicious import-time behavior contained in the compromised package. - The payload executes with the same operating-system privileges and environmental access as the user running pip or the presentation generator. ...[truncated 655 chars]
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Pin both dependencies to versions that have been reviewed and tested, preferably in a dedicated requirements file or lock file.
- Generate and verify cryptographic hashes for all direct and transitive dependencies. Install with
pip install --require-hashes -r requirements.txt. - Explicitly document and enforce a trusted package index rather than relying on potentially unsafe user-level pip configuration.
- Use an automated dependency update process that reviews security advisories and tests upgrades before changing pinned versions.
- Run installation and presentation generation in an isolated virtual environment or container under a non-privileged account.
- Add dependency vulnerability and provenance scanning to continuous integration.
- Avoid installing dependencies with administrator or root privileges.
