T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
SKILL.md:125- Finding
Unpinned Third-Party Dependency Installation
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md:125
Vulnerability Type: Unpinned and unverified package installation
Risk Level: MediumVulnerable Code Snippet:
bash pip install requestsTechnical Analysis
The setup instructions install
requestswithout a fixed version, cryptographic hashes, a lockfile, or an explicitly trusted package index. Consequently, the dependency resolved during installation can change after the skill has been reviewed.The supplied knowledge-extraction example does not import or use
requests, so this installation also introduces an unnecessary supply-chain component. Although no malicious package or package source was identified in the audited project, an upstream package compromise, registry compromise, or unexpected future release could affect users who follow this instruction.Attack Path
- A user or automation system follows the environment-preparation instructions.
pipresolves the current version ofrequestsand its transitive dependencies from the configured package index.- If a resolved release or package index is compromised, attacker-controlled installation or runtime code is placed in the Python environment.
- That code executes with the permissions of the user or service performing installation or subsequently importing the affected package.
Impact Assessment
Exploitation could provide code execution within the Python installation context and access to files, credentials, network resources, and environment variables available to the installing or executing account. The project itself contains no evidence of registry manipulation or a malicious dependency, so the risk is conditional on an external supply-chain compromise.
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Remove
requestsbecause the supplied implementation does not use it. - If it becomes necessary, pin an audited version and all transitive dependencies in a lockfile.
- Require cryptographic hashes, for example through
pip install --require-hashes. - Configure an explicitly trusted package index rather than relying on uncontrolled environment configuration.
- Run dependency installation in an isolated virtual environment or container with minimal filesystem and network privileges.
- Add automated dependency vulnerability and integrity scanning to the release process.
- Remove
