T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
README.md:83- Finding
Unpinned Remote Package Execution During Installation
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
README.md:83
Vulnerability Type: Supply-chain risk caused by executing an unpinned npm package
Risk Level: MediumVulnerable Code
bash npx clawhub@latest install math-formula-calculatorTechnical Analysis
The recommended installation command invokes
npxwith the mutablelatesttag. If the selected package version is not already available locally,npxmay retrieve it from the configured npm registry and execute its package entry point with the installing user's privileges.Because
latestis mutable, the package executed in the future may differ from the version reviewed when this documentation was published. The project does not provide a fixed package version, package integrity hash, lockfile, verified registry identity, or other mechanism for users to confirm that the downloaded installer is a reviewed release.This creates a supply-chain trust boundary outside the audited project. Compromise of the package publisher account, registry distribution path, or a future package release could change the effective installation behavior without requiring any modification to this repository.
Attack Path
- An attacker compromises the
clawhubnpm package, its publisher account, or another relevant distribution component. - The attacker publishes a malicious release and causes the mutable
latesttag to reference it. - A user follows the installation command documented in
README.md. npxdownloads and executes the attacker-controlled package.- The malicious package runs with the privileges and environmental access of the user who launched the command.
Impact Assessment
Successful exploitation could provide arbitrary code execution under the installing user's account. Depending on that user's privileges and environment, the malicious package could access or modify user-readable files, project data, environment variables, credentials available to the process, and net ...[truncated 368 chars]
- An attacker compromises the
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Replace the mutable
latesttag with an explicitly reviewed and fixed package version:bash npx clawhub@1.2.3 install math-formula-calculator - Document the expected npm registry and verified package publisher so users can detect namespace or registry substitution.
- Publish the expected package integrity digest and provide instructions for verifying the downloaded artifact before execution.
- Prefer an installation workflow that separates retrieval, inspection, and execution rather than immediately executing remotely obtained package code.
- Maintain release provenance through signed releases or registry-supported provenance attestations.
- Advise users to perform installation with the minimum required privileges and never run the command as an administrator unless strictly necessary.
- Update pinned versions deliberately after security review instead of relying on a mutable distribution tag.
- Replace the mutable
