T08 · Insecure Dependencies
- Location
SKILL.md:141- Finding
Unpinned and Unnecessary Third-Party Dependency Installation
- Content
View full analysis
Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md, line 141
Vulnerability Type: Unpinned third-party package installation
Risk Level: LowVulnerable Code:
bash pip install requestsTechnical Analysis
The environment preparation instructions install
requestswithout specifying an exact version, package hash, or trusted package index. Consequently, the installed artifact depends on mutable package-index state and the localpipconfiguration at installation time.The dependency is also unnecessary for the documented example, which uses only Python standard-library functionality. The dependency table identifies only the agent-provided LLM API as required and does not identify
requestsas a required runtime component. Installing an unused package needlessly increases the software supply-chain attack surface.This instruction does not itself prove that the legitimate
requestspackage is malicious. The risk arises if the configured index, mirror, package resolution process, or a future compatible release is compromised or otherwise untrusted.Attack Path
- A user or agent follows the Skill's environment preparation instructions.
- The environment executes
pip install requests. pipresolves the package through its configured index or mirror without enforcing a reviewed version and cryptographic hash.- If that package source or resolution path is compromised, a malicious distribution may be selected.
- Attacker-controlled package installation logic executes with the privileges of the user or agent running
pip. - The malicious package may subsequently affect that Python environment and any processes that import or execute it.
Impact Assessment
Successful exploitation could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the account running the installation. Accessible scope may include files, environment variables, credentials, and network resources available to that ...[truncated 417 chars]
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
- Remove the
pip install requestsinstruction because the documented task-manager example requires only Python's standard library. - If the package becomes necessary, declare it in a reviewed dependency manifest and pin an approved exact version.
- Require cryptographic hashes, such as through
pip install --require-hashes -r requirements.txt. - Use an explicitly approved package index or internally controlled mirror rather than relying on ambient
pipconfiguration. - Install dependencies in an isolated virtual environment under a non-privileged account.
- Add automated dependency and provenance scanning to detect vulnerable, substituted, or unexpected artifacts.
- Remove the
