T08 · Insecure Dependencies
Note
- Location
- SKILL.md:166
- Finding
- Unnecessary and Unpinned Third-Party Dependency Installation## Vulnerability Details **File Location**: `SKILL.md`, lines 166-170 **Vulnerability Type**: Unpinned third-party dependency and avoidable supply-chain exposure **Risk Level**: Low ```bash ## Dependencies ```bash pip install pytz ``` ``` ### Technical Analysis The documentation instructs users to install `pytz` without specifying an exact version or verifying package hashes. However, the provided implementation uses Python's built-in `zoneinfo` module and does not import or otherwise require `pytz`. Installing an unpinned and unused dependency unnecessarily expands the project's supply-chain attack surface. Package resolution can change over time, and installation may execute package build or installation hooks with the privileges of the invoking user. No evidence was found that the legitimate `pytz` package is malicious; the risk arises from avoidable installation and the absence of version and integrity controls. ### Attack Path 1. A user follows the documented dependency instructions. 2. `pip` resolves `pytz` from the user's configured package index without an exact version or hash requirement. 3. If the configured index, package account, network path, or resolved distribution is compromised, attacker-controlled package content may be downloaded. 4. Package installation or build hooks execute under the invoking user's account. 5. Attacker-controlled code could consequently access or modify resources available to that account. This path requires an upstream package, repository, distribution, or package-resolution compromise; the audited project itself does not provide or retrieve a known malicious payload. ### Impact Assessment Exploitation could execute code with the privileges of the user running `pip`. Potential scope includes that user's files, environment variables, credentials accessible to the process, and writable Python environments. Administrative impact would occur only if the installation command ...[truncated 144 chars]
- Remediation
- ## Remediation Suggestions 1. Remove the `pip install pytz` instruction because the examples use the standard-library `zoneinfo` module. 2. State that Python 3.9 or later is required for the documented implementation. 3. If support for older Python releases genuinely requires `pytz`, declare an audited exact version in a dependency file rather than using an unconstrained installation command. 4. Use hash verification, such as `pip install --require-hashes -r requirements.txt`, and record approved distribution hashes. 5. Install dependencies only from a trusted package index and avoid running package installation with administrative privileges. 6. Add automated dependency review and vulnerability monitoring if a third-party dependency is retained.