T06 · System Persistence
- Location
SKILL.md:123- Finding
Persistent Scheduled Execution Through a Cron Task
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md:123-127
Vulnerability Type: Scheduled-task persistence
Risk Level: HighRelevant excerpt translated into English:
bash ### Step 5: Configure Scheduled Monitoring # Create a daily scanning cron task bash (refer to the script file in the skill directory)Technical Analysis
The Skill instructs the user or Agent to execute a shell script that creates a daily cron task. A cron entry survives the current Skill invocation and causes code to run in future sessions, making this a system-persistence mechanism.
The referenced scheduling script,
schedule-scan.sh, is not included in the audited project. Consequently, the audit cannot verify the command installed in the crontab, the executable path, the environment inherited by the task, the account under which it runs, or whether the installed task can later execute modified files. Executing an unavailable or separately obtained installer would cross the trust boundary established by this package review.Attack Path
- A user loads the Skill and follows its scheduled-monitoring instructions.
- The user obtains or encounters a script represented as the missing
schedule-scan.sh. - The user executes that shell script as instructed.
- The script adds a recurring entry to the user's or system's crontab.
- The configured command executes daily after the original Skill session has ended.
- If the script or its target executable is attacker-controlled or later replaced, attacker-controlled commands obtain recurring execution.
Impact Assessment
Successful exploitation can provide persistent command execution with the privileges of the account that owns the cron entry. If the scheduling command is run under an elevated account, the persistence could become system-wide. Potential consequences include repeated access to Agent memory, workspace files, environment variables, credentials available t ...[truncated 317 chars]
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Remove automatic cron installation from the default workflow.
- Include the complete scheduling script in the reviewed package rather than referring to an unavailable file.
- Display the exact proposed cron entry and require explicit user confirmation before installation.
- Use an absolute, immutable executable path and validate file ownership and permissions before creating the task.
- Run the task under a dedicated least-privileged account with access limited to the intended memory files.
- Prevent the scheduled command from loading untrusted environment files or resolving executables through a writable
PATH. - Document how to inspect, disable, and permanently remove the cron entry.
- Record installation and removal events in an auditable local log.
