Back to skill

Security audit

Perplexity Search

Security checks for vulnerabilities and agentic risk

Overview

This skill is a straightforward AIsa Perplexity Sonar client that sends user-provided research prompts to the documented remote API using an API key.

Install only if you intend to use AIsa's Perplexity Sonar service. Treat prompts, optional system instructions, and the AISA_API_KEY as sensitive: avoid sending confidential, regulated, or private material unless you are comfortable sharing it with that provider.

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
  • Data ExfiltrationExternal Transmission, Env Variable Harvesting, File System Enumeration
  • MCP Least PrivilegeUnderdeclared Capability, Wildcard Permission, Missing Permission Declaration
  • Prompt InjectionInstruction Override, Hidden Instructions, Exfiltration Commands
  • Privilege EscalationExcessive Permissions, Sudo/Root Execution, Credential Access
  • Supply ChainUnpinned Dependencies, External Script Fetching, Obfuscated Code
Findings (8)

Undeclared Tool Scope

Medium
Category
MCP Least Privilege
Confidence
88% confidence
Finding

The skill requires environment access to AISA_API_KEY and performs outbound network requests, but it does not declare an explicit tool scope such as permissions or allowed-tools. That omission weakens least-privilege controls and makes it harder for a host agent or reviewer to constrain execution to only the intended capabilities.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
60% confidence
Finding

Data is being sent to an external URL. This could be legitimate telemetry or data exfiltration. Manual review is recommended.

Content

Scanner excerpt · SKILL.md (reported line 47)May include surrounding context.

--system "Respond in markdown with an executive summary first."

text

## Curl Examples

### Sonar

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
60% confidence
Finding

Data is being sent to an external URL. This could be legitimate telemetry or data exfiltration. Manual review is recommended.

Content

Scanner excerpt · SKILL.md (reported line 52)May include surrounding context.

md
class PerplexitySearchClient:
    """Minimal client for AIsa Perplexity Sonar endpoints."""

    BASE_URL = "https://api.aisa.one/apis/v1"

    def __init__(self, api_key: Optional[str] = None):
        self.api_key = api_key or os.environ.get("AISA_API_KEY")

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
60% confidence
Finding

Data is being sent to an external URL. This could be legitimate telemetry or data exfiltration. Manual review is recommended.

Content

Scanner excerpt · SKILL.md (reported line 66)May include surrounding context.

md
class PerplexitySearchClient:
    """Minimal client for AIsa Perplexity Sonar endpoints."""

    BASE_URL = "https://api.aisa.one/apis/v1"

    def __init__(self, api_key: Optional[str] = None):
        self.api_key = api_key or os.environ.get("AISA_API_KEY")

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
60% confidence
Finding

Data is being sent to an external URL. This could be legitimate telemetry or data exfiltration. Manual review is recommended.

Content

Scanner excerpt · SKILL.md (reported line 80)May include surrounding context.

md
class PerplexitySearchClient:
    """Minimal client for AIsa Perplexity Sonar endpoints."""

    BASE_URL = "https://api.aisa.one/apis/v1"

    def __init__(self, api_key: Optional[str] = None):
        self.api_key = api_key or os.environ.get("AISA_API_KEY")

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
60% confidence
Finding

Data is being sent to an external URL. This could be legitimate telemetry or data exfiltration. Manual review is recommended.

Content

Scanner excerpt · SKILL.md (reported line 94)May include surrounding context.

md
class PerplexitySearchClient:
    """Minimal client for AIsa Perplexity Sonar endpoints."""

    BASE_URL = "https://api.aisa.one/apis/v1"

    def __init__(self, api_key: Optional[str] = None):
        self.api_key = api_key or os.environ.get("AISA_API_KEY")

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
60% confidence
Finding

Data is being sent to an external URL. This could be legitimate telemetry or data exfiltration. Manual review is recommended.

Content

Scanner excerpt · scripts/perplexity_search_client.py (reported line 25)May include surrounding context.

python
class PerplexitySearchClient:
    """Minimal client for AIsa Perplexity Sonar endpoints."""

    BASE_URL = "https://api.aisa.one/apis/v1"

    def __init__(self, api_key: Optional[str] = None):
        self.api_key = api_key or os.environ.get("AISA_API_KEY")

Missing User Warnings

Medium
Category
Not specified by scanner
Confidence
90% confidence
Finding

This code packages the user query and optional system instruction into a request body and sends them to a remote HTTPS endpoint. Although the file has a general docstring describing it as a client, it does not include any explicit user-facing warning, prompt, or disclosure that supplied content will be transmitted to an external service.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Static analysis

No suspicious patterns detected.