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Security audit

KoboToolbox

Security checks for vulnerabilities and agentic risk

Overview

The KoboToolbox workflow has clear safeguards, but its setup instructions can trigger unverified software installation without separate user approval.

Review and approve CLI installation separately, preferably using a pinned, verified release. Check its automatic skill synchronization before running it. Connect only the KoboToolbox account and data you intend OOMOL to process, and retain the stated confirmations for writes and deletions. The remote installer and hosted connector implementation were not verified; no malicious behavior was established.

Vulnerability Patterns
  • Skill Instruction HijackingAlters the agent's session goals or safety constraints when the skill loads
  • Agent Memory PoisoningWrites attacker-controlled rules into memory that affect later sessions
  • Remote Payload Retrieval and ExecutionFetches external code whose behavior can change after review
  • Embedded Malicious CodeShips malicious scripts inside the skill and executes them locally
  • Unauthorized Access and Privilege EscalationObtains permissions beyond the task's legitimate needs
Vulnerability Patterns
  • Supply ChainUnpinned Dependencies, External Script Fetching, Obfuscated Code
  • Excessive AgencyUnrestricted Tool Access, Autonomous Decision Making, Scope Creep
  • Output HandlingUnvalidated Output Injection, Cross-Context Output, Unbounded Output
  • MCP Tool PoisoningHidden Instructions, Unicode Deception, Parameter Description Injection
  • Prompt InjectionInstruction Override, Hidden Instructions, Exfiltration Commands
Findings (4)

Description-Behavior Mismatch

High
Category
MCP Tool Poisoning
Confidence
96% confidence
Finding

The supplied chunk installs software from a non-KoboToolbox domain rather than performing any visible KoboToolbox operation. Although dependency installation can be a supporting implementation detail, the chunk provides no evidence connecting this installer to the declared purpose. The remote script's contents and any further effects cannot be determined from the supplied code.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

External Script Fetching

High
Category
Supply Chain
Confidence
98% confidence
Finding

Piping the installer URL directly into Bash executes whatever content the endpoint supplies with the agent's local privileges, without pinning or independent integrity verification. HTTPS protects transport but does not prevent a compromised publisher or hosting endpoint from supplying malicious code; the legitimate CLI dependency and conditional fallback reduce exposure but do not remove this supply-chain risk.

Content

Scanner excerpt · SKILL.md (reported line 65)May include surrounding context.

The fallback installation workflow executes remote scripts without warning about local system changes or remote-code execution.

Medium
Category
Output Handling
Confidence
96% confidence
Finding

The missing-CLI fallback directs the agent to execute remote installation scripts without explicit user approval or disclosure of local-system changes. Although restricted to a setup failure, this expands a KoboToolbox task into local code execution; the write/destructive confirmation rules cover KoboToolbox state, not installation.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Autonomous Decision Making

Medium
Category
Excessive Agency
Confidence
80% confidence
Finding

Skill enables autonomous high-impact decisions without human-in-the-loop verification. Critical operations (destructive commands, financial transactions, data deletion) should require explicit user confirmation.

Content

Scanner excerpt · SKILL.md (reported line 86)May include surrounding context.

md
- **`OOMOL_INSUFFICIENT_CREDIT`** — OOMOL billing stop. Recharge at `https://console.oomol.com/billing/token-recharge` before retrying.

- **HTTP 402 without `OOMOL_INSUFFICIENT_CREDIT`** — the third-party account itself has no active plan or credit. Report the provider error message as is; do not ask the user to recharge OOMOL.

## Resources