T08 · Insecure Dependencies
Warning
- Location
- SKILL.md:86
- Finding
- Unpinned Third-Party Package Installation## Vulnerability Details **File Location**: `SKILL.md`, line 86 **Vulnerability Type**: Unpinned third-party dependency **Risk Level**: Medium **Vulnerable Code**: ```bash pip install mcp-serp ``` ### Technical Analysis The documented command installs the latest available release of the third-party `mcp-serp` package without a version constraint or cryptographic hash. The project provides no lockfile, verified source reference, package hash, or provenance-validation procedure. Installing a Python package can execute package-controlled build or installation logic. Consequently, a compromised, replaced, or unexpectedly modified package release could execute arbitrary code during installation. The absence of version and hash pinning also prevents users from reliably reproducing a previously reviewed installation. ### Attack Path 1. An attacker compromises the package, its publisher account, or the relevant package-distribution path. 2. The attacker publishes a malicious release under the expected package name. 3. A user or agent follows the documented `pip install mcp-serp` instruction. 4. `pip` resolves and downloads the attacker-controlled release because no trusted version or hash is specified. 5. Malicious build, installation, or runtime logic executes with the installing user's privileges. 6. The payload may read accessible environment variables, including `ACEDATACLOUD_API_TOKEN`, modify user-accessible files, or perform network communication. ### Impact Assessment Successful exploitation can provide arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the account running `pip`. The accessible scope includes that user's files, environment variables, credentials, network access, and writable Python environments. If installation is performed with elevated privileges, the potential impact expands accordingly. No privilege escalation mechanism is present in the audited file itself.
- Remediation
- ## Remediation Suggestions - Pin `mcp-serp` to a specifically reviewed version rather than installing the latest release implicitly. - Distribute a requirements file containing verified cryptographic hashes and install it with: ```bash pip install --require-hashes -r requirements.txt ``` - Document the authoritative package index and source repository so users can verify package provenance. - Review the selected release and its transitive dependencies before adoption. - Use a lockfile or equivalent dependency-resolution record to make installations reproducible. - Install the dependency in an isolated virtual environment under a non-privileged account. - Avoid exposing unrelated secrets to the installation process, and scope the API token to the minimum required permissions.