other
- Location
SKILL.md:189- Finding
Unnecessary Enumeration of Credential-Related Environment Variables
- Content
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Vulnerability Details
File Location:
SKILL.md, line 189
Vulnerability Type: Environment reconnaissance
Risk Level: MediumComplete Code Snippet:
bash env | grep -E "API|KEY|TOKEN|SECRET" | sed "s/=.*/=***/" # Linux/macOSTechnical Analysis
The command reads the process's entire environment and filters for variable names commonly associated with credentials, including API keys, tokens, and secrets. Although
sedmasks each value before displaying the result, the command still accesses the complete environment and reveals the names of sensitive variables.This behavior exceeds the minimum access necessary for the Skill's stated purpose of creating Python virtual environments, installing dependencies, locating interpreters, and diagnosing Python configuration problems. Knowledge of credential-variable names can reveal which external services and authentication mechanisms are available to the Agent's process.
The issue is classified as
other: Environment reconnaissancebecause it does not itself elevate privileges, expose credential values, or fit the listed attack categories precisely.Attack Path
- A user asks the Skill to initialize or validate a Python project environment.
- The Agent follows the configuration-verification instructions in
SKILL.md. - The command invokes
env, reading all environment variables available to the Agent process. - Variables whose names contain
API,KEY,TOKEN, orSECRETare selected. - Their values are masked, but their names are returned in command output.
- A subsequent malicious instruction or compromised component could use this reconnaissance to target specific credentials.
Impact Assessment
The immediate scope is limited to the environment of the process executing the Skill. The command does not reveal credential values because its output masks them, and the reviewed Skill contains no instruction to transmit the results ...[truncated 313 chars]
- Remediation
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Remediation Suggestions
Remove the broad environment-enumeration command. Validate only the exact environment variables required for a documented operation, and report only whether each variable is configured.
For example:
bash if [ -n "${REQUIRED_APP_KEY:-}" ]; then echo "REQUIRED_APP_KEY is configured" else echo "REQUIRED_APP_KEY is not configured" fiAdditional hardening measures:
- Document every environment variable required by the Skill.
- Avoid invoking
env,printenv, or equivalent commands without a narrowly defined need. - Never include secret values in Agent output or logs.
- Do not cache configuration-check results containing sensitive metadata.
- Keep dependency installation isolated in a virtual environment and inspect project-controlled dependency metadata before installation.