T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
SKILL.md:40- Finding
Unpinned Dependency Installation with Suppressed Confirmation
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md, line 40
Vulnerability Type: Unsafe execution of a mutable third-party package release
Risk Level: MediumVulnerable Code Snippet:
shell npx -y @alipay/agent-payment@latest installTechnical Analysis
The skill instructs the agent to invoke an npm package using the mutable
latestdistribution tag. Thenpxcommand can download and execute package code, including package entry points and lifecycle scripts. Because no exact version, integrity hash, or lockfile is specified, the code executed during a future installation may differ from the package version available when this audit was performed.The
-yoption automatically accepts installation prompts, reducing the opportunity for the user or operator to inspect the resolved package version and approve execution. If the package publisher account, npm package, or relevant supply-chain infrastructure is compromised, an attacker could publish a malicious release under the same package name and make it resolve throughlatest.This is an insecure dependency-execution pattern. The reviewed repository does not itself contain a malicious payload, and successful exploitation depends on compromise or malicious modification of the external package supply chain.
Attack Path
- An attacker compromises the
@alipay/agent-paymentpackage, its publisher account, or another part of its distribution chain. - The attacker publishes a malicious release and assigns it to the mutable
latesttag. - The payment dependency is absent when the skill is used.
- The agent follows the documented command and invokes
npxwith automatic confirmation enabled. npxretrieves the attacker-controlled package release.- Malicious package code or lifecycle scripts execute with the privileges of the account running the agent.
Impact Assessment
Successful exploitation could result in arbitrary code ex ...[truncated 640 chars]
- An attacker compromises the
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Replace
@latestwith a reviewed and immutable exact package version. - Use a lockfile and verify package integrity through a trusted checksum or package-lock integrity value.
- Remove
-yso installation requires explicit, informed operator approval. - Display the exact package name, resolved version, registry, and requested action before installation.
- Configure npm to use an approved registry and enforce dependency allowlisting where possible.
- Disable lifecycle scripts during installation when they are not required, such as by using
--ignore-scripts. - Perform installation in a sandbox or least-privileged container with restricted filesystem access, credentials, and network connectivity.
- Prefer a preinstalled, independently reviewed payment integration rather than downloading executable dependencies during skill operation.
- Establish a controlled update process that reviews and tests each dependency release before changing the pinned version.
- Replace
