T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
SKILL.md:265- Finding
Unverified Executable Download and Unpinned SSH Dependency
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md:265-267
Vulnerability Type: Supply-chain compromise through an unsafe executable source and unpinned dependency
Risk Level: HighVulnerable Code
text - Windows: Download sshpass.exe from: https://github.com/xhcoding/sshpass-win32/releases/download/v1.0.7/sshpass.exe - Linux: Install it using: pip install sshpass -gTechnical Analysis
The Skill directs Windows users to download an executable from a personal GitHub repository. It provides no cryptographic checksum, signature, trusted publisher identity, or independent verification procedure. Although the URL identifies a release version, the remote account or hosted artifact could be compromised or replaced after the Skill has been reviewed.
The Linux instruction similarly installs an unpinned package from the active Python package index. It neither identifies an expected package hash nor constrains transitive dependencies. The
-gargument is also not a standardpip installoption and may cause the instruction to fail or behave inconsistently.This dependency is particularly sensitive because
sshpassreceives plaintext SSH credentials and participates directly in privileged remote authentication.Attack Path
- An attacker compromises the referenced GitHub account, release artifact, package-index account, or dependency distribution channel.
- The attacker publishes a modified
sshpassbinary or package under the expected location or name. - An operator follows the Skill instructions and installs the unverified component.
- The operator invokes the component with SSH credentials.
- The malicious component executes with the operator's local privileges and can capture passwords, alter SSH operations, or install additional payloads.
Impact Assessment
Successful exploitation can provide code execution with the privileges of the user running the SSH utility. It can al ...[truncated 314 chars]
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Remove the recommendation to download an executable from a personal repository.
- Prefer the operating system's trusted package manager or built-in OpenSSH capabilities.
- Prefer SSH public-key authentication or short-lived certificates over
sshpass. - If an external artifact is unavoidable, pin an exact version and publish an expected SHA-256 digest obtained through a separate trusted channel.
- Require verification of a trusted maintainer signature before installation.
- Pin Python dependencies by version and hash using a reviewed lock file.
- Execute third-party authentication utilities in a constrained environment without unnecessary filesystem, network, or administrative privileges.
- Document the trusted publisher and fail closed if verification cannot be completed.
