T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
debug.md:8- Finding
Unpinned Third-Party Package Execution Through npx
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
debug.md:8
Additional Locations:library.md:18,44;migration.md:8;performance.md:27;styling.md:76;testing.md:10,124-126;typescript.md:82-85
Vulnerability Type: Supply-chain exposure through unpinned package execution
Risk Level: MediumVulnerable Code Snippet:
markdown 2. **Read the compiler output.** `non_reactive_update`, `css_unused_selector`, `state_referenced_locally`, and the a11y warnings each name the bug directly. Warnings scroll past in the dev server; run `npx svelte-check` to see them all at once.Other affected instructions recommend commands such as:
text npx sv create my-lib npx publint npx sv migrate svelte-5 npx vite-bundle-visualizer npx sv add tailwindcss npx sv add vitest npx vitest run --coverage npx playwright test npx svelte-kit syncTechnical Analysis
The Skill repeatedly recommends executing packages through
npxwithout requiring a locally installed, lockfile-pinned version. If a requested executable is absent from the project,npxmay resolve and download a package from the configured npm registry and immediately execute its CLI code.This creates a mutable supply-chain boundary: the code executed by the user can differ from the code available when the Skill was reviewed. A compromised package release, package takeover, registry compromise, dependency-confusion condition, or malicious registry configuration could therefore result in arbitrary local code execution.
The commands are relevant to Svelte development, and there is no evidence that the named packages are intentionally malicious. The risk arises from automatic resolution and execution of unpinned third-party code rather than from an embedded malicious payload.
Attack Path
- The user follows the Skill's recommendation to run an unpinned
npxcommand. - The corresponding CLI package is not already installed in ...[truncated 1452 chars]
- The user follows the Skill's recommendation to run an unpinned
- Remediation
View remediation
Remediation Suggestions
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Add required developer tools to the project's
devDependenciesusing reviewed, exact or policy-approved versions. -
Commit and enforce the package-manager lockfile so dependency resolution is reproducible.
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Prefer execution of project-local binaries. For npm environments, use a locked installation followed by commands such as:
sh npm ci npm exec --offline -- svelte-check npm exec --offline -- vitest run --coverage npm exec --offline -- playwright test -
When introducing a new package, require explicit user confirmation and specify a reviewed version rather than resolving an unspecified latest release.
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Verify the package name, publisher, registry, integrity metadata, and provenance before installation.
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In CI, use immutable lockfile installation, disable unexpected lifecycle scripts where feasible, and run dependency tooling with minimal filesystem and credential access.
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Update the Skill documentation to distinguish commands that use an existing local dependency from commands that may download and execute remote code.
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