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Security audit

Heartbeat Kit

Security checks for vulnerabilities and agentic risk

Overview

This is a markdown template pack for user-enabled heartbeat checks, with sensitive monitoring implications but no hidden execution, exfiltration, or destructive behavior found.

Before installing, only copy a heartbeat template into workspaces where periodic monitoring is intended, limit configured accounts and locations to what you actually want checked, and review what email/calendar details may be surfaced in heartbeat reports.

Vulnerability Patterns
  • Skill Instruction HijackingAlters the agent's session goals or safety constraints when the skill loads
  • Agent Memory PoisoningWrites attacker-controlled rules into memory that affect later sessions
  • Remote Payload Retrieval and ExecutionFetches external code whose behavior can change after review
  • Embedded Malicious CodeShips malicious scripts inside the skill and executes them locally
  • Unauthorized Access and Privilege EscalationObtains permissions beyond the task's legitimate needs
Vulnerability Patterns
  • Prompt InjectionInstruction Override, Hidden Instructions, Exfiltration Commands
  • Excessive AgencyUnrestricted Tool Access, Autonomous Decision Making, Scope Creep
  • Trigger AbuseOverly Broad Trigger, Shadow Command Trigger, Keyword Baiting Trigger
  • Data ExfiltrationExternal Transmission, Env Variable Harvesting, File System Enumeration
  • Privilege EscalationExcessive Permissions, Sudo/Root Execution, Credential Access
Findings (7)

Hidden Instructions

High
Category
Prompt Injection
Confidence
70% confidence
Finding

Hidden instructions were detected in comments or invisible text. These could contain malicious directives. Manual review is recommended.

Content

Scanner excerpt · templates/combined-lite.md (reported line 3)May include surrounding context.

md
# HEARTBEAT CHECK

<!-- HEARTBEAT CONFIG -->
<!-- EMAIL_ACCOUNT: your@email.com -->
<!-- LOCATION: Denver, CO -->
<!-- QUIET_HOURS: 23:00-07:00 -->

Vague Triggers

Medium
Category
Not specified by scanner
Confidence
91% confidence
Finding

The README states that after copying a template, 'Your agent picks it up automatically,' which encourages automatic activation of a heartbeat configuration without an explicit enablement or review step. In an agent skill context, background check-ins can access email, calendars, system health, or social data, so ambiguous auto-loading increases the risk of unintended execution and over-privileged monitoring.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Vague Triggers

Medium
Category
Not specified by scanner
Confidence
83% confidence
Finding

The description markets the skill as usable for "common agent tasks" and says "Drop in and go," but it does not define any clear trigger scope, activation constraints, or exclusions. In a markdown skill description, this kind of broad natural-language framing can make it unclear when the skill should be selected versus more specific alternatives.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Missing User Warnings

Medium
Category
Not specified by scanner
Confidence
89% confidence
Finding

The listed templates cover email, calendar, weather/location, system health, social notifications, and project status, all of which can expose sensitive personal, organizational, or host-level data. Because the skill presents these templates as drop-in monitoring components without any warning about privacy, permissions, or least-privilege configuration, users may enable broad surveillance or over-collection unintentionally.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Vague Triggers

Medium
Category
Not specified by scanner
Confidence
87% confidence
Finding

This markdown file describes checks that occur on 'Every Heartbeat' and '2x Daily' but never defines what event, command, or scheduler constitutes a heartbeat. Without explicit trigger phrases, context, or exclusion conditions, the skill could be invoked too broadly or at unintended times.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Missing User Warnings

Medium
Category
Not specified by scanner
Confidence
92% confidence
Finding

The skill directs an agent to monitor unread emails, sender identities, message subjects, and calendar events, all of which are privacy-sensitive, but it provides no explicit user-facing warning, consent flow, or data-handling limits. In an agent context, this can normalize silent background surveillance and lead to collection or disclosure of personal or work information without sufficiently informed authorization.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Scope Creep

Low
Category
Excessive Agency
Confidence
70% confidence
Finding

Skill's behavior or capabilities extend beyond its stated purpose. Scope creep allows an agent to perform actions unrelated to its documented functionality, increasing the attack surface.

Content

Scanner excerpt · README.md (reported line 82)May include surrounding context.

md
**USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.**

- The author(s) are NOT liable for any damages, losses, or consequences arising from 
  the use or misuse of this software — including but not limited to financial loss, 
  data loss, security breaches, business interruption, or any indirect/consequential damages.
- This software does NOT constitute financial, legal, trading, or professional advice.
- Users are solely responsible for evaluating whether this software is suitable for

Static analysis

No suspicious patterns detected.