T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
SKILL.md:343- Finding
Unpinned Third-Party Dependencies Installed from Unrestricted Package Sources
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md, lines 343–349
Vulnerability Type: Unpinned and unverifiable third-party dependencies
Risk Level: MediumVulnerable Code Snippet:
markdown | pandas | Python library | Required | `pip install pandas` | | numpy | Python library | Required | `pip install numpy` | | matplotlib | Python library | Optional | `pip install matplotlib` (visualization) | | seaborn | Python library | Optional | `pip install seaborn` (advanced visualization) | | openpyxl | Python library | Optional | `pip install openpyxl` (Excel read/write) | | tabulate | Python library | Optional | `pip install tabulate` (Markdown tables) |Technical Analysis
The Skill directs users or agents to install third-party Python packages without specifying reviewed versions, cryptographic hashes, a lockfile, or an approved package index. Consequently, each installation resolves whichever package release and transitive dependencies are available from the configured index at execution time.
Python package installation may execute package build hooks or other installer-controlled code with the privileges of the user running
pip. If an upstream package release, transitive dependency, configured package index, or package-distribution account is compromised, malicious code could execute during installation or later when the package is imported.The package names are consistent with the Skill's stated data-analysis purpose. There is no evidence in the reviewed project of deliberate typosquatting, dependency confusion, or a presently malicious package. The risk arises from the mutable and unverifiable dependency installation process.
Attack Path
- A user or agent loads the Skill and follows its dependency installation instructions.
- The agent executes an unpinned command such as
pip install pandas. pipqueries its configured package source and resolves the latest compatible packag ...[truncated 1088 chars]
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Define all direct dependencies in a version-controlled requirements or lock file using exact, reviewed versions.
- Pin transitive dependencies through a reproducible locking tool such as
pip-tools, Poetry, or an equivalent approved dependency manager. - Record and verify cryptographic hashes for every downloaded artifact; for
pip, use a hash-locked requirements file with--require-hashes. - Require installation from an explicitly approved HTTPS package index rather than relying on ambient or user-controlled index configuration.
- Install dependencies inside an isolated virtual environment or container under a non-privileged account.
- Disable unnecessary build isolation or source builds where organizational policy requires vetted binary artifacts only.
- Continuously scan locked dependencies for known vulnerabilities and review dependency updates before changing the lock file.
- Replace the documented free-form installation commands with a single reproducible installation command referencing the reviewed lock file.