T03 · Remote Payload Retrieval and Execution
- Location
- INSTALL.md:37
- Finding
- Remote Bootstrap Script Is Downloaded and Executed Without Integrity Verification<![CDATA[ ## Vulnerability Details **File Location**: `INSTALL.md:37-39` **Vulnerability Type**: Remote payload retrieval and execution **Risk Level**: Critical ### Vulnerable Code ```bash python3 -m venv --without-pipe ~/.openclaw/kb/venv ~/.openclaw/kb/venv/bin/python -m ensurepip # or: curl -sS https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py | ~/.openclaw/kb/venv/bin/python ``` ### Technical Analysis The installation documentation recommends piping a mutable script retrieved over HTTPS directly into a Python interpreter. No version pin, checksum validation, digital-signature verification, or opportunity for local inspection is provided. HTTPS protects the connection in transit but does not establish that the returned payload is the exact artifact reviewed with this Skill. A compromised distribution server, certificate trust chain, DNS environment, proxy, or upstream publishing process could replace the effective payload after the Skill itself has been audited. Although this command appears in documentation rather than an automatically invoked script, it is presented as an installation procedure and results in direct execution if followed. ### Attack Path 1. A user encounters an environment in which `ensurepip` is unavailable. 2. The user follows the documented alternative command. 3. The command retrieves the current `get-pip.py` response from the external host. 4. The shell streams the response directly into the virtual environment's Python interpreter. 5. Any malicious code in that response executes with the privileges of the user running the installation. ### Impact Assessment Successful exploitation permits arbitrary code execution as the installing user. The payload could read or modify user-accessible files, access environment variables and credentials, install additional packages, alter the OpenClaw workspace, or establish further persistence using the user's existing permissions. ]]>
- Remediation
- <![CDATA[ ## Remediation Suggestions - Remove the direct download-to-interpreter pipeline. - Prefer the operating system's reviewed `python3-venv` or `python3-pip` package. - If a bootstrap artifact is unavoidable: 1. Pin it to a specific immutable version. 2. Download it to a local file. 3. Verify a published SHA-256 checksum or trusted digital signature. 4. Inspect the downloaded file before execution. 5. Execute it only inside an isolated virtual environment. - Document the expected artifact hash and the trusted source used to obtain it. ]]>
