T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
SKILL.md:16- Finding
Unpinned npm Package Is Downloaded and Executed During Installation
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md, line 16
Vulnerability Type:T08: Insecure Dependencies
Risk Level: MediumVulnerable Code
yaml install: "npx clawhub install tenant-rights-housing"Technical Analysis
The documented installation command uses
npxto invoke the npm-hostedclawhubpackage without specifying an audited version or verifying a package integrity hash. If the package is not already available locally,npxmay download the version currently resolved by the npm registry and execute its package entry point.Because neither the package version nor its content digest is pinned, the code executed during installation can change after this Skill has been reviewed. Compromise of the upstream package, its publisher account, or the dependency resolution process could therefore introduce arbitrary executable behavior without any corresponding modification to this repository.
Attack Path
- An attacker compromises the upstream
clawhubnpm package, its publisher account, or a dependency included in the package. - The attacker publishes a malicious version that remains compatible with the unversioned package name.
- A user or agent follows the installation instruction:
bash npx clawhub install tenant-rights-housing npxresolves and downloads the attacker-controlled package version.- The package entry point or lifecycle behavior executes with the privileges of the user running the command.
- The malicious package can perform operations permitted by that account before or while installing the Skill.
Impact Assessment
Successful exploitation could allow arbitrary code execution under the installing user's account. Depending on that account's privileges and environment, an attacker could access user-readable files and credentials, modify local data, invoke network services, or tamper with other development resources. The repository itself does not request elevated privileges, ...[truncated 213 chars]
- An attacker compromises the upstream
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Pin the installer to a specific, reviewed version, for example:
bash npx --yes clawhub@<audited-version> install tenant-rights-housing - Verify the selected package version against a trusted integrity digest or signed provenance before execution.
- Identify the expected official npm registry and publisher in the installation documentation to reduce dependency-confusion and impersonation risks.
- Use a lockfile where installation occurs within a managed project, and commit the lockfile so transitive dependencies remain reproducible.
- Prefer separating retrieval from execution: download and inspect the package first, verify its integrity and provenance, and only then invoke its executable.
- Run installation using a least-privileged account in a sandbox or isolated environment. Do not execute the command with administrator or root privileges.
- Periodically review the pinned package and its transitive dependencies before deliberately updating the approved version.
- Pin the installer to a specific, reviewed version, for example:
