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Security audit

TechPulse

Security checks for vulnerabilities and agentic risk

Overview

TechPulse is a small disclosed Reddit trend-reporting skill with no hidden persistence, credential use, destructive behavior, or privilege escalation.

Install only if you are comfortable with a Russian-language skill that contacts Reddit's public API to summarize hot posts from hardcoded technology-related subreddits. It does not appear to read private data, use credentials, or modify anything beyond normal installation.

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
  • Rogue AgentSelf-Modification, Session Persistence
  • Trigger AbuseOverly Broad Trigger, Shadow Command Trigger, Keyword Baiting Trigger
  • Prompt InjectionInstruction Override, Hidden Instructions, Exfiltration Commands
  • Data ExfiltrationExternal Transmission, Env Variable Harvesting, File System Enumeration
  • Privilege EscalationExcessive Permissions, Sudo/Root Execution, Credential Access
Findings (5)

Natural-Language Policy Violations

Medium
Category
Not specified by scanner
Confidence
95% confidence
Finding

The natural-language content in the skill file is presented only in Russian, which can force a specific language on users without opt-in. The policy allows language constraints only when users are given a choice or when the constraint is clearly documented and justified.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Session Persistence

Medium
Category
Rogue Agent
Confidence
60% confidence
Finding

Skill establishes unauthorized persistence across sessions via cron jobs, startup scripts, or state files. Session persistence allows an attacker to maintain access beyond the current interaction.

Content

Scanner excerpt · SKILL.md (reported line 8)May include surrounding context.

Установка

bash
mkdir -p ~/.openclaw/skills/techpulse
unzip techpulse.zip -d ~/.openclaw/skills/
openclaw restart

Natural-Language Policy Violations

Medium
Category
Not specified by scanner
Confidence
95% confidence
Finding

The module docstring and function docstrings are written in Russian, which establishes a fixed language for the skill's natural-language interface without offering a user opt-in or documenting that the skill is region-specific. This matches the policy concern for language or locale constraints applied implicitly.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Vague Triggers

Medium
Category
Not specified by scanner
Confidence
90% confidence
Finding

The manifest description lists several broad topics like IoT, EV, Games, DIY, and Tech without specifying concrete trigger phrases, scope boundaries, or exclusion conditions. This ambiguity could cause unintended invocation for common research or technology-related requests.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Natural-Language Policy Violations

Low
Category
Not specified by scanner
Confidence
76% confidence
Finding

The natural-language description is presented only in Russian, which may imply a language-specific constraint without any opt-in, alternative language support, or documented regional justification. This can conflict with language/locale policy expectations when users have not chosen that language.

Content

No source excerpt is available for this finding.

Static analysis

No suspicious patterns detected.