T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
SKILL.md:142- Finding
Unpinned Third-Party Dependency Installation
- Content
View full analysis
Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md:142
Vulnerability Type: Insecure dependency management
Risk Level: MediumVulnerable Code
bash pip install requestsTechnical Analysis
The setup instructions install
requestswithout a version constraint, lockfile, or package hash. Consequently, the code installed by this command may change independently of the reviewed skill artifact. The instructions also do not require an isolated virtual environment or a specifically trusted package index.This creates a supply-chain risk: compromise of the selected package release, its dependencies, or the configured package index could result in unreviewed code being installed. Package installation hooks, and subsequently imported package code, execute with the privileges of the user or agent running the setup.
Attack Path
- An attacker compromises a package release, a transitive dependency, or the package source used by the victim's Python configuration.
- The user or agent follows the documented setup instructions and runs
pip install requests. pipresolves and downloads the currently available, unpinned dependency set.- Malicious installation logic or package code executes with the invoking user's privileges.
- The attacker can act within the permissions and environment available to that user or agent.
Impact Assessment
Successful exploitation could execute arbitrary package code with the privileges of the user performing the installation or running the resulting environment. Depending on those privileges, the affected scope may include accessible files, environment variables, API credentials, network resources, and agent workspaces. The document alone does not establish elevated or administrative execution, so privilege escalation beyond the invoking account is not claimed.
- Remediation
View remediation
Remediation Suggestions
- Pin the dependency to a reviewed version rather than installing an unconstrained latest release.
- Maintain a lockfile containing exact direct and transitive dependency versions.
- Require hashes for downloaded distributions, such as through
pip install --require-hashes. - Install dependencies in a dedicated virtual environment with minimal privileges.
- Explicitly configure and document a trusted package index.
- Perform dependency vulnerability and provenance checks before publishing updates.
- Avoid performing dependency installation automatically during normal skill execution.
