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Security audit

Kubernetes Troubleshooting

Security checks for vulnerabilities and agentic risk

Overview

This Kubernetes troubleshooting skill needs review because its node-repair instructions can affect workloads without clearly requiring user approval or safety checks.

Use a read-only Kubernetes account initially and explicitly select the intended cluster and namespace. Require approval before cleanup, process termination, or workload changes. Preserve relevant logs and confirm maintenance is complete before uncordoning: this resumes scheduling onto the node, as explained in [Kubernetes maintenance guidance](https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/administer-cluster/safely-drain-node/).

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
  • Privilege EscalationExcessive Permissions, Sudo/Root Execution, Credential Access
  • Output HandlingUnvalidated Output Injection, Cross-Context Output, Unbounded Output
  • Trigger AbuseOverly Broad Trigger, Shadow Command Trigger, Keyword Baiting Trigger
  • 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
80% confidence
Finding

The supplied code performs policy-listing calls rather than the declared diagnostic behavior. Nothing in the snippet establishes policy enumeration as a supporting Kubernetes troubleshooting step. The function implementation is absent, so its target resources and side effects cannot be determined.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Credential Access

High
Category
Privilege Escalation
Confidence
60% confidence
Finding

Code accesses credential files (SSH keys, AWS credentials, etc.). This could indicate credential theft attempts.

Content

Scanner excerpt · scripts/diagnose-pod.py (reported line 23)May include surrounding context.

python
Args:
        name: Pod name
        namespace: Kubernetes namespace
        context: Optional kubeconfig context

    Returns:
        Dictionary with diagnostic information

Activation keywords include everyday troubleshooting terms without an explicit Kubernetes-context requirement.

Medium
Category
Trigger Abuse
Confidence
88% confidence
Finding

The activation list treats mentions such as "debug", "broken", "logs", and "stuck" as triggers, although these commonly occur in unrelated requests. The surrounding Kubernetes description provides context, but the explicit trigger rules do not require a Kubernetes resource or cluster context, creating ambiguity about when the skill should activate.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Node remediation steps lack warnings about destructive cleanup and changes to workload scheduling.

Medium
Category
Output Handling
Confidence
96% confidence
Finding

The decision tree recommends cleaning up images and logs, killing processes, and uncordoning nodes without checking operational constraints or requiring approval. In an agent troubleshooting skill, these instructions could lead to deletion of diagnostic evidence, disruption of workloads, or scheduling onto a node intentionally cordoned for maintenance; the risk depends on the agent's permissions and whether it executes remediation automatically.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Static analysis

No suspicious patterns detected.