T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
SKILL.md:137- Finding
Unpinned Third-Party Python Dependencies
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md, lines 137 and 232–234
Vulnerability Type: Insecure dependency installation
Risk Level: MediumVulnerable Code Snippets:
bash pip install pandas openpyxl pdfplumbermarkdown | pandas | Python library | Required | `pip install pandas` | | openpyxl | Python library | Required | `pip install openpyxl` (Excel) | | pdfplumber | Python library | Optional | `pip install pdfplumber` (PDF) |Technical Analysis
The skill instructs the user or agent to install third-party Python packages without specifying reviewed versions or cryptographic hashes. Package names are resolved dynamically through the environment's configured Python package index. As a result, the installed artifacts may change after the skill has been audited.
This is a supply-chain weakness rather than evidence that the named packages are malicious. If a package release, transitive dependency, configured index, or package-resolution path is compromised, package installation or subsequent import may execute attacker-controlled code with the privileges of the user running the agent.
The project contains no dependency lock file, hash manifest, or package source restriction that would allow consumers to verify that they receive the same reviewed artifacts.
Attack Path
- An attacker compromises a dependency release, one of its transitive dependencies, or a package index used by the execution environment.
- The user or agent follows the documented setup command and runs
pip install pandas openpyxl pdfplumber. pipresolves an unpinned, attacker-controlled artifact from the configured index.- Malicious code executes during installation or when the package is imported by a reporting workflow.
- The payload operates with the privileges and filesystem or network access of the user or agent process.
Impact Assessment
Successful exploitation could permit arbi ...[truncated 550 chars]
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Move dependencies into a version-controlled requirements or lock file and pin each direct and transitive dependency to a reviewed version.
- Record cryptographic hashes for every approved distribution and enforce them during installation:
bash python3 -m pip install --require-hashes -r requirements.txt - Generate the lock file in a controlled build environment and review dependency changes before updating it.
- Restrict installation to an approved HTTPS package index or an internally managed package mirror.
- Prefer isolated virtual environments or containers with minimal privileges and no unnecessary access to sensitive financial files during dependency installation.
- Add automated dependency vulnerability and integrity scanning to the release process.
- Separate dependency installation from report processing so installation scripts do not run in a context containing sensitive input documents or credentials.