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Security audit

Reddit Search API - Posts, Comments, Subreddits, Users

Security checks for vulnerabilities and agentic risk

Overview

This is a coherent Reddit research skill that uses a disclosed third-party API, with the main consideration being careful handling of Reddit user activity data and API costs.

Install only if you are comfortable sending Reddit search terms, post IDs, subreddit names, and usernames to Scavio using your API key. Treat returned Reddit user profile, post, and comment data as privacy-sensitive, and monitor credit usage because each endpoint call is billed in credits.

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
  • Prompt InjectionInstruction Override, Hidden Instructions, Exfiltration Commands
  • Privilege EscalationExcessive Permissions, Sudo/Root Execution, Credential Access
  • Supply ChainUnpinned Dependencies, External Script Fetching, Obfuscated Code
  • Excessive AgencyUnrestricted Tool Access, Autonomous Decision Making, Scope Creep
Findings (8)

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
70% 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 198)May include surrounding context.

md
HEADERS = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}"}

# 1. Search Reddit
results = requests.post(f"{BASE}/api/v1/reddit/search", headers=HEADERS,
    json={"query": "serpapi alternative"}).json()

post_id = results["data"]["results"][0]["post_id"]

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
70% 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 204)May include surrounding context.

md
post_id = results["data"]["results"][0]["post_id"]

# 2. Full post detail
post = requests.post(f"{BASE}/api/v1/reddit/post", headers=HEADERS,
    json={"post_id": post_id}).json()

# 3. Top comments, then expand one thread

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
70% 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 208)May include surrounding context.

md
json={"post_id": post_id}).json()

# 3. Top comments, then expand one thread
comments = requests.post(f"{BASE}/api/v1/reddit/post/comments", headers=HEADERS,
    json={"post_id": post_id, "sort": "TOP"}).json()

reply_cursor = comments["data"]["comments"][0]["reply_cursor"]

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
70% 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 212)May include surrounding context.

md
json={"post_id": post_id, "sort": "TOP"}).json()

reply_cursor = comments["data"]["comments"][0]["reply_cursor"]
replies = requests.post(f"{BASE}/api/v1/reddit/post/comments/replies", headers=HEADERS,
    json={"post_id": post_id, "cursor": reply_cursor}).json()

# 4. Subreddit feed

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
70% 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 216)May include surrounding context.

md
json={"post_id": post_id, "cursor": reply_cursor}).json()

# 4. Subreddit feed
feed = requests.post(f"{BASE}/api/v1/reddit/subreddit/posts", headers=HEADERS,
    json={"subreddit": "Python", "sort": "TOP"}).json()

# 5. Comment search, newest first - each hit carries its post and subreddit

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
70% 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 220)May include surrounding context.

md
json={"subreddit": "Python", "sort": "TOP"}).json()

# 5. Comment search, newest first - each hit carries its post and subreddit
hits = requests.post(f"{BASE}/api/v1/reddit/search/comments", headers=HEADERS,
    json={"query": "web scraping api", "sort": "NEW"}).json()
for c in hits["data"]["results"]:
    print(c["subreddit"], c["score"], c["post"]["title"], c["permalink"])

External Transmission

Medium
Category
Data Exfiltration
Confidence
70% 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 226)May include surrounding context.

md
print(c["subreddit"], c["score"], c["post"]["title"], c["permalink"])

# 6. Find communities on a topic
subs = requests.post(f"{BASE}/api/v1/reddit/search/subreddits", headers=HEADERS,
    json={"query": "web scraping"}).json()
for s in subs["data"]["results"]:
    print(s["prefixed_name"], s["subscribers"])

Missing User Warnings

Low
Category
Not specified by scanner
Confidence
80% confidence
Finding

This markdown file documents endpoints that retrieve identifiable Reddit user activity and profile data, including profile details and comment history. While the functionality is described, there is no explicit user-facing warning about privacy implications or responsible handling of collected user data.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Static analysis

Detected: suspicious.exposed_secret_literal

File appears to expose a hardcoded API secret or token.

Critical
Code
suspicious.exposed_secret_literal
Location
SKILL.md:44