T03 · Remote Payload Retrieval and Execution
- Location
SKILL.md:21- Finding
Remote PowerShell Installer Is Downloaded and Executed Without Integrity Verification
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md:21
Vulnerability Type: Remote payload retrieval and execution
Risk Level: CriticalComplete Code Snippet:
powershell irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iexTechnical Analysis
The installation instruction uses
Invoke-RestMethod(irm) to retrieve a mutable PowerShell script from an external URL and immediately passes its contents toInvoke-Expression(iex). This creates a direct remote-code-execution channel: the effective payload is determined at execution time rather than being fixed and reviewable in the Skill package.HTTPS protects the connection in transit but does not provide payload pinning. The command does not verify a cryptographic digest, digital signature, fixed release version, or locally reviewed copy before execution. Consequently, compromise of the hosting endpoint, publishing account, delivery infrastructure, or remote script could cause arbitrary commands to run with the privileges of the user operating OpenClaw.
Installing Claude Code is relevant to the Skill's declared purpose, but immediate execution of mutable remote content exceeds the minimum privileges and trust necessary to perform that installation.
Attack Path
- An attacker compromises or gains control over the remote installer or its delivery infrastructure.
- The attacker modifies
install.ps1to include malicious PowerShell commands. - A user follows the installation command from
SKILL.md. irmdownloads the attacker-controlled content.- The pipeline sends that content directly to
iexwithout inspection or integrity verification. - The malicious commands execute with the invoking user's current privileges.
Impact Assessment
Successful exploitation provides arbitrary code execution under the invoking user's security context. Depending on that account's permissions and available credentials, the payload could read or alter sour ...[truncated 269 chars]
- Remediation
View remediation
Remediation Suggestions
- Prefer the documented WinGet installation method and verify the expected package identity, publisher, source, and version.
- Do not pipe downloaded content directly into
Invoke-Expression. - If a script-based installer is necessary, download it to a local file first.
- Pin the installer to a specific release and verify it against an independently published cryptographic hash or trusted digital signature.
- Permit users to inspect the verified script before execution.
- Run installation with the lowest privileges required and avoid elevated PowerShell unless explicitly necessary.
- Document the expected download domain, signer, digest, and verification failure behavior.
