T03 · Remote Payload Retrieval and Execution
- Location
README.md:17- Finding
Unpinned Remote Repository Retrieval and Execution
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
README.md, lines 17-20
Vulnerability Type: Mutable remote payload execution
Risk Level: Highbash # With uvx (recommended) — runs instantly without installation uvx --from git+https://github.com/Lars147/mvg-cli mvg search "Marienplatz" uvx --from git+https://github.com/Lars147/mvg-cli mvg departures "Marienplatz" uvx --from git+https://github.com/Lars147/mvg-cli mvg route "Marienplatz" "Garching"Technical Analysis
The recommended quick-start commands instruct users to retrieve and execute the current contents of a remote Git repository. The repository reference is not pinned to a reviewed commit hash, immutable tag, or hash-verified package artifact. Consequently, the code executed by future users can differ from the code covered by this audit.
Although remote installation is relevant to distributing a CLI, directly executing a mutable repository exceeds the minimum trust necessary. A compromised maintainer account, repository, dependency declaration, or upstream branch could replace the effective payload without changing this audited artifact.
Attack Path
- An attacker compromises the referenced GitHub repository or a maintainer account.
- The attacker modifies the default branch, package metadata, build backend behavior, or CLI entry point.
- A user follows the recommended
uvx --from git+https://...command. uvxretrieves the changed repository and runs its build or application code.- The malicious code executes with the operating-system privileges of the invoking user.
Impact Assessment
Successful exploitation permits arbitrary code execution in the user's context. The resulting payload could access files readable by that user, modify user-owned configuration, use available network credentials, or install user-level persistence. Administrative privileges are not inherently obtained, but the impact expands if the command is run ...[truncated 41 chars]
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Pin the Git source to a reviewed full commit hash rather than the mutable default branch.
- Prefer a signed, versioned release distributed through a trusted package registry.
- Publish and verify cryptographic hashes for release artifacts.
- Use a lockfile for build and runtime dependencies.
- Avoid presenting execution from an unpinned Git source as the recommended installation method.
- Document how users can verify release signatures and source provenance before execution.
