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dependency-auditor

Check dependencies for known vulnerabilities using npm audit, pip-audit, etc. Use when package.json or requirements.txt changes, or before deployments. Alerts on vulnerable dependencies. Triggers on dependency file changes, deployment prep, security mentions.

Security

Run this skill in the cloud

No local installation needed
All dependencies pre-installed
Secure isolated VM environment

Skill Documentation

# Dependency Auditor Skill

Automatic dependency vulnerability checking.

## When I Activate

- ✅ package.json modified
- ✅ requirements.txt changed
- ✅ Gemfile or pom.xml modified
- ✅ User mentions dependencies or vulnerabilities
- ✅ Before deployments
- ✅ yarn.lock or package-lock.json changes

## What I Check

### Dependency Vulnerabilities
- Known CVEs in packages
- Outdated dependencies with security fixes
- Malicious packages
- License compatibility issues
- Deprecated packages

### Package Managers Supported
- **Node.js**: npm, yarn, pnpm
- **Python**: pip, pipenv, poetry
- **Ruby**: bundler
- **Java**: Maven, Gradle
- **Go**: go modules
- **PHP**: composer

## Example Alerts

### NPM Vulnerability

```bash
# You run: npm install lodash

# I automatically audit:
🚨 HIGH: Prototype Pollution in lodash
📍 Package: lodash@4.17.15
📦 Vulnerable versions: < 4.17.21
🔧 Fix: npm update lodash
📖 CVE-2020-8203
   https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8203

Recommendation: Update to lodash@4.17.21 or higher
```

### Python Vulnerability

```bash
# You modify requirements.txt: django==2.2.0

# I alert:
🚨 CRITICAL: Multiple vulnerabilities in Django 2.2.0
📍 Package: Django@2.2.0
📦 Vulnerable versions: < 2.2.28
🔧 Fix: Update requirements.txt to Django==2.2.28
📖 CVEs: CVE-2021-33203, CVE-2021-33571

Affected: SQL injection, XSS vulnerabilities
Recommendation: Update immediately to Django@2.2.28+
```

### Multiple Vulnerabilities

```bash
# After npm install:
🚨 Dependency audit found 8 vulnerabilities:
  - 3 CRITICAL
  - 2 HIGH
  - 2 MEDIUM
  - 1 LOW

Critical issues:
  1. axios@0.21.0 - SSRF vulnerability
     Fix: npm install axios@latest

  2. ajv@6.10.0 - Prototype pollution
     Fix: npm install ajv@^8.0.0

  3. node-fetch@2.6.0 - Information disclosure
     Fix: npm install node-fetch@^2.6.7

Run 'npm audit fix' to automatically fix 6/8 issues
```

## Automatic Actions

### On Dependency Changes

```yaml
1. Detect package manager (npm, pip, etc.)
2. Run security audit command
3. Parse vulnerability results
4. Categorize by severity
5. Suggest fixes
6. Flag breaking changes
```

### Audit Commands

```bash
# Node.js
npm audit
npm audit --json  # Structured output

# Python
pip-audit
safety check

# Ruby
bundle audit

# Java (Maven)
mvn dependency-check:check
```

## Severity Classification

### CRITICAL 🚨
- Remote code execution
- SQL injection
- Authentication bypass
- Publicly exploitable

### HIGH ⚠️
- Cross-site scripting
- Denial of service
- Information disclosure
- Wide attack surface

### MEDIUM 📋
- Limited impact vulnerabilities
- Requires specific conditions
- Difficult to exploit

### LOW 💡
- Minor security improvements
- Best practice violations
- Minimal risk

## Fix Strategies

### Automatic Updates

```bash
# Safe automatic fixes
npm audit fix

# May include breaking changes
npm audit fix --force
```

### Manual Updates

```bash
# Check what will change
npm outdated

# Update specific package
npm update lodash

# Major version update
npm install lodash@latest
```

### Alternative Packages

```
Vulnerable: request@2.88.0 (deprecated)
Alternative: axios or node-fetch
Migration guide: [link]
```

## Integration with CI/CD

### Block Deployments

```yaml
# .github/workflows/security.yml
- name: Dependency audit
  run: |
    npm audit --audit-level=high
    # Fails if HIGH or CRITICAL found
```

### Scheduled Audits

```yaml
# Weekly dependency check
on:
  schedule:
    - cron: '0 0 * * 0'
jobs:
  audit:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - run: npm audit
```

## Sandboxing Compatibility

**Works without sandboxing:** ✅ Yes
**Works with sandboxing:** ⚙️ Needs npm/pip registry access

**Sandbox config:**
```json
{
  "network": {
    "allowedDomains": [
      "registry.npmjs.org",
      "pypi.org",
      "rubygems.org",
      "repo.maven.apache.org"
    ]
  }
}
```

## License Checking

I also check license compatibility:

```
⚠️ License issue: GPL-3.0 package in commercial project
📦 Package: some-gpl-package@1.0.0
📖 GPL-3.0 requires source code disclosure
🔧 Consider: Find MIT/Apache-2.0 alternative
```

## Best Practices

1. **Regular audits**: Run weekly or on every dependency change
2. **Update frequently**: Keep dependencies current
3. **Review breaking changes**: Test before major updates
4. **Pin versions**: Use exact versions in production
5. **Audit lock files**: Commit and audit lock files

## Related Tools

- **security-auditor skill**: Code vulnerability detection
- **@architect sub-agent**: Dependency strategy
- **/review command**: Pre-deployment security check

Published by alirezarezvani

This skill works with Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Gemini CLI, and other AI coding agents.

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