Security audit

Hackernews Api

Security checks for vulnerabilities and agentic risk

Overview

This is a read-only Hacker News lookup skill that uses a disclosed ReplyNodes API key and does not include write, install, persistence, or local execution behavior.

Install only if you are comfortable using ReplyNodes as the gateway and spending prepaid credits for public Hacker News reads. Configure the API key through the agent's secret store, not chat, logs, source files, or URLs.

A.I.G

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

SkillSpector

Vulnerability Patterns

Data ExfiltrationExternal Transmission, Env Variable Harvesting, File System Enumeration
Excessive AgencyUnrestricted Tool Access, Autonomous Decision Making, Scope Creep
Prompt InjectionInstruction Override, Hidden Instructions, Exfiltration Commands
Privilege EscalationExcessive Permissions, Sudo/Root Execution, Credential Access
Supply ChainUnpinned Dependencies, External Script Fetching, Obfuscated Code

Findings (12)

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 17)May include surrounding context.
md
## Access This provider currently requires a preconfigured `REPLYNODES_API_KEY` sent as an Authorization Bearer header to `https://api.replynodes.com`. Do not ask the user to paste a key into chat, and do not implement account signup or key provisioning inside this skill. If no key is available, stop and report that the provider is not anonymous/keyless.

External Transmission

Medium

Category: Data Exfiltration
Confidence: 50% 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.
md
Every operation is an HTTP GET and reads public data only: - `stories_top` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_top`. List top public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_new` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_new`. List newest public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_best` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_best`. List best public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_ask` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_ask`. List public Ask HN stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits.

External Transmission

Medium

Category: Data Exfiltration
Confidence: 50% 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 48)May include surrounding context.
md
Every operation is an HTTP GET and reads public data only: - `stories_top` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_top`. List top public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_new` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_new`. List newest public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_best` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_best`. List best public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_ask` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_ask`. List public Ask HN stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits.

External Transmission

Medium

Category: Data Exfiltration
Confidence: 50% 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 49)May include surrounding context.
md
Every operation is an HTTP GET and reads public data only: - `stories_top` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_top`. List top public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_new` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_new`. List newest public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_best` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_best`. List best public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_ask` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_ask`. List public Ask HN stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits.

External Transmission

Medium

Category: Data Exfiltration
Confidence: 50% 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 50)May include surrounding context.
md
Every operation is an HTTP GET and reads public data only: - `stories_top` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_top`. List top public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_new` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_new`. List newest public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_best` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_best`. List best public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_ask` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_ask`. List public Ask HN stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits.

External Transmission

Medium

Category: Data Exfiltration
Confidence: 50% 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 51)May include surrounding context.
md
Every operation is an HTTP GET and reads public data only: - `stories_top` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_top`. List top public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_new` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_new`. List newest public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_best` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_best`. List best public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_ask` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_ask`. List public Ask HN stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits.

External Transmission

Medium

Category: Data Exfiltration
Confidence: 50% 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
Every operation is an HTTP GET and reads public data only: - `stories_top` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_top`. List top public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_new` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_new`. List newest public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_best` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_best`. List best public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_ask` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_ask`. List public Ask HN stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits.

External Transmission

Medium

Category: Data Exfiltration
Confidence: 50% 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 53)May include surrounding context.
md
Every operation is an HTTP GET and reads public data only: - `stories_top` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_top`. List top public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_new` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_new`. List newest public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_best` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_best`. List best public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_ask` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_ask`. List public Ask HN stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits.

External Transmission

Medium

Category: Data Exfiltration
Confidence: 50% 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 54)May include surrounding context.
md
Every operation is an HTTP GET and reads public data only: - `stories_top` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_top`. List top public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_new` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_new`. List newest public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_best` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_best`. List best public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_ask` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_ask`. List public Ask HN stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits.

External Transmission

Medium

Category: Data Exfiltration
Confidence: 50% 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 55)May include surrounding context.
md
Every operation is an HTTP GET and reads public data only: - `stories_top` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_top`. List top public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_new` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_new`. List newest public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_best` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_best`. List best public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_ask` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_ask`. List public Ask HN stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits.

External Transmission

Medium

Category: Data Exfiltration
Confidence: 50% 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 68)May include surrounding context.
md
Every operation is an HTTP GET and reads public data only: - `stories_top` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_top`. List top public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_new` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_new`. List newest public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_best` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_best`. List best public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_ask` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_ask`. List public Ask HN stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits.

External Transmission

Medium

Category: Data Exfiltration
Confidence: 50% 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 70)May include surrounding context.
md
Every operation is an HTTP GET and reads public data only: - `stories_top` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_top`. List top public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_new` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_new`. List newest public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_best` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_best`. List best public Hacker News stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits. - `stories_ask` — `GET https://api.replynodes.com/v1/hackernews/stories_ask`. List public Ask HN stories This operation costs 2 prepaid credits.