T09 · Insecure Skill Coding Practices
- Location
scripts/generate_meme.py:114- Finding
Hardcoded Imgflip Account Credentials
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
scripts/generate_meme.py, lines 114-123
Vulnerability Type: Hardcoded reusable credentials
Risk Level: MediumVulnerable Code
python import os username = os.environ.get("IMGFLIP_USER", "davememebot") password = os.environ.get("IMGFLIP_PASS", "DaveMakes3Memes!") data = { "template_id": template_id, "username": username, "password": password, }Technical Analysis
The script embeds an Imgflip username and plaintext password as fallback values. Unless both environment variables are configured, every installation automatically uses these shared credentials when sending requests to the Imgflip caption API.
Environment-variable support does not mitigate disclosure because the fallback credentials remain visible to anyone who can access the source package or repository. They can be extracted and used outside the Skill without invoking the script.
Attack Path
- An attacker obtains or inspects the distributed Skill package.
- The attacker opens
scripts/generate_meme.pyand extracts the fallback username and password. - The attacker submits authenticated requests directly to Imgflip using those credentials.
- Requests are attributed to and consume the resources or limits of the shared account.
- Continued abuse may result in unwanted content, exhausted service quotas, credential compromise, or suspension of the account.
No local privilege escalation is provided by this issue; exploitation is limited to the access granted by the exposed Imgflip account.
Impact Assessment
An attacker can obtain the same Imgflip account access afforded by the exposed credentials. The practical scope may include generating content under the shared account, consuming its API allowance, disrupting legitimate Skill use, and causing reputational harm or account suspension.
The reviewed code does not establish that these credentials grant access to the local host, other services, elevated ...[truncated 42 chars]
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Remove the embedded username and password from the source code.
- Rotate or revoke the exposed password immediately, because removing it from a later revision does not invalidate previously distributed copies.
- Require credentials to be supplied through environment variables or an appropriate secret-management service.
- Fail safely with a clear error if either required value is missing:
python import os username = os.environ.get("IMGFLIP_USER") password = os.environ.get("IMGFLIP_PASS") if not username or not password: raise RuntimeError( "IMGFLIP_USER and IMGFLIP_PASS must be configured securely" )- Do not commit replacement credentials to source control, documentation, examples, test fixtures, or packaged artifacts.
- Prefer per-user credentials rather than a shared account so usage can be isolated, revoked, and audited independently.
- Add automated secret scanning to the development and release pipeline to prevent future credential exposure.