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Security audit

Northbeam

Security checks for vulnerabilities and agentic risk

Overview

The Northbeam reads are appropriately scoped, but setup can execute downloaded software without verification or separate approval.

Review the setup before installing. Use a separately reviewed CLI release, approve its local changes, and connect only the intended Northbeam account. Consider disabling startup skill synchronization using the publisher-documented OO_SKILLS_SYNC_DISABLED setting. Remote installer behavior remains unverified; the artifact does not establish malicious intent. [CLI controls](https://github.com/oomol-lab/oo-cli/blob/main/docs/commands.md)

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
99% confidence
Finding

The supplied command performs remote installer execution, not Northbeam data access. Nothing in the provided chunk establishes that this installation is a supporting dependency for the declared purpose. The downloaded script's contents and further effects are not available for assessment.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

External Script Fetching

High
Category
Supply Chain
Confidence
97% confidence
Finding

The command pipes a mutable network response directly into Bash without verifying an independently trusted signature or digest; the PowerShell example uses the same download-and-execute pattern. If the distribution endpoint or release pipeline is compromised, attacker-controlled code could execute with the invoking user's privileges, potentially exposing local credentials and files. HTTPS and the conditional setup path reduce some exposure but do not establish artifact integrity.

Content

Scanner excerpt · SKILL.md (reported line 59)May include surrounding context.

Fallback setup executes downloaded installation scripts without warning about remote code execution or system changes.

Medium
Category
Output Handling
Confidence
92% confidence
Finding

A missing CLI triggers instructions to execute a remote installer without explaining its privileges or system changes, or requiring explicit approval. Although this is a conditional prerequisite rather than routine behavior, it can expand a read-only data request into software installation; the declared Bash restriction may constrain execution but is not a substitute for installation safeguards.

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 80)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