T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
requirements.txt:1- Finding
Unpinned Third-Party Dependencies Create Supply-Chain Risk
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
requirements.txt, lines 1–3
Vulnerability Type: Unpinned third-party dependencies
Risk Level: MediumComplete Code Snippet:
text requests>=2.28.0 beautifulsoup4>=4.11.0 urllib3>=1.26.0The documented installation command in
SKILL.md, line 25, consumes these requirements directly:bash pip install -r ${SKILL_DIR}/requirements.txtTechnical Analysis
Every dependency specifies only a minimum version and permits pip to install any later release available from the configured package index. As a result, installations are not reproducible and may introduce code that was never reviewed as part of this Skill audit.
This is a supply-chain weakness rather than evidence that the currently named packages are malicious. Exploitation would require an attacker to compromise an allowed upstream release, the package-distribution infrastructure, or the dependency-resolution environment. Because Python packages can execute code during installation and later when imported, a compromised release could run with the privileges of the user installing or invoking the Skill.
Attack Path
- An attacker compromises a future compatible release of one of the declared packages or the package source used by pip.
- A user or agent follows the setup instructions and runs
pip install -r ${SKILL_DIR}/requirements.txt. - Pip resolves the open-ended requirement to the attacker-controlled or otherwise unreviewed release.
- Malicious package code executes during installation or when
news_cli.pyimports the dependency. - The code operates with the privileges and environmental access of the installing or invoking process.
Impact Assessment
Successful exploitation could permit arbitrary code execution under the affected user's account. The potential scope includes files, credentials, environment variables, and network resources accessible to that account. ...[truncated 154 chars]
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Replace open-ended lower bounds with exact, reviewed versions, for example
package==X.Y.Z. - Generate a reproducible lock file that includes all transitive dependencies.
- Record package hashes and install with
pip install --require-hashesso altered distributions are rejected. - Use a trusted package index and explicitly configure approved index URLs in controlled deployment environments.
- Run dependency vulnerability and provenance checks in CI.
- Update pinned dependencies through a scheduled review process that includes testing and security review.
- Perform installation and execution in an isolated virtual environment or container with minimal filesystem and network privileges.
- Replace open-ended lower bounds with exact, reviewed versions, for example