T08 · Insecure Dependencies
Warning
- Location
- SKILL.md:65
- Finding
- Unpinned Third-Party Runtime Dependencies<![CDATA[ ## Vulnerability Details **File Location**: `SKILL.md:65-68`; `scripts/fetch_news.py:12-18` **Vulnerability Type**: Supply-chain exposure through unpinned dependencies **Risk Level**: Medium ### Vulnerable Code ```markdown **Requirements**: `pip install feedparser requests` ``` ```python try: import feedparser import requests except ImportError: print("Error: Required packages not installed.") print("Run: pip install feedparser requests") sys.exit(1) ``` ### Technical Analysis The installation instructions retrieve the latest available versions of `feedparser` and `requests` from the user's configured Python package index. No version constraints, lockfile, integrity hashes, or trusted-index restrictions are supplied. The package names match the imported libraries, so there is no evidence of intentional typosquatting or an existing malicious dependency. Nevertheless, the absence of version and integrity controls means the installed code may differ between installations. A compromised maintainer account, package registry, mirror, or future malicious release could cause arbitrary package installation or import-time code to run. ### Attack Path 1. An attacker compromises a dependency publisher account, package registry, or package mirror used by the victim. 2. The attacker publishes a malicious release under one of the expected package names. 3. A user follows the documented `pip install feedparser requests` instruction. 4. Pip resolves and installs the attacker-controlled release because no version or hash is enforced. 5. Malicious code executes during installation or when `fetch_news.py` imports the package. ### Impact Assessment Successful exploitation would execute code with the privileges of the user installing or running the Skill. Depending on those privileges, an attacker could access user-readable files, environment variables, network credentials, and application data, or modify files writable by that account. The im ...[truncated 242 chars]
- Remediation
- <![CDATA[ ## Remediation Suggestions 1. Add a dependency lock or requirements file containing reviewed, exact versions: ```text feedparser==<reviewed-version> requests==<reviewed-version> ``` 2. Generate and verify package hashes, then install with: ```bash python -m pip install --require-hashes -r requirements.txt ``` 3. Pin transitive dependencies through a reproducible lockfile generated by a tool such as `pip-compile`. 4. Configure installation to use an explicitly trusted package index and avoid untrusted extra indexes or mirrors. 5. Run dependency vulnerability and provenance checks in CI. 6. Recommend installation inside an isolated virtual environment without administrator or root privileges. 7. Periodically update pinned versions through a controlled review and testing process. ]]>