Dependency Security Skill

This skill covers security scanning for npm dependencies.

When to Use

Use this skill when:

• Auditing project dependencies
• Setting up security CI/CD
• Responding to vulnerability alerts
• Evaluating new dependencies

Core Principle

DEFENSE IN DEPTH - Use multiple tools for security scanning. No single tool catches everything.

npm audit

Basic Usage

# Run audit
npm audit

# JSON output for parsing
npm audit --json

# Only high/critical
npm audit --audit-level=high

# Production dependencies only
npm audit --omit=dev

Auto-Fix

# Safe fixes (semver-compatible)
npm audit fix

# Force fixes (may have breaking changes)
npm audit fix --force

# Dry run
npm audit fix --dry-run

Understanding Output

# vulnerabilities found

Severity: high
Package: example-package
Dependency of: my-dep
Path: my-dep > sub-dep > example-package
More info: https://npmjs.com/advisories/XXXXX

Snyk

Installation

npm install -g snyk
snyk auth

Usage

# Test for vulnerabilities
snyk test

# Monitor project (continuous)
snyk monitor

# High severity only
snyk test --severity-threshold=high

# Specific package
snyk test --package-manager=npm

CI Integration

- name: Snyk Security Scan
  uses: snyk/actions/node@master
  env:
    SNYK_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SNYK_TOKEN }}
  with:
    args: --severity-threshold=high

Socket.dev

Installation

npm install -g @socketsecurity/cli

Usage

# Scan for supply chain issues
npx @socketsecurity/cli scan

# Detailed report
npx @socketsecurity/cli report

What Socket Detects

• Typosquatting attacks
• Protestware
• Malicious packages
• Unexpected behavior
• Network access
• Shell access

Severity Levels

Security Audit Workflow

1. Initial Assessment

# Full audit
npm audit

# Check for outdated packages
npm outdated

2. Vulnerability Analysis

For each vulnerability:

1. Check if it affects your usage
2. Look for patches or updates
3. Evaluate alternative packages
4. Document if accepted risk

3. Remediation

# Update specific package
npm update package-name

# Update to latest
npm install package-name@latest

# Replace package
npm uninstall vulnerable-package
npm install alternative-package

4. Verification

# Re-run audit
npm audit

# Run tests
npm test

Lock File Security

Verify Lock File Integrity

# Verify package-lock.json
npm ci  # Clean install from lock file

# Check for lock file modifications
git diff package-lock.json

Lock File Best Practices

1. Always commit lock files
2. Use npm ci in CI/CD
3. Review lock file changes in PRs
4. Never manually edit lock files

Dependency Evaluation

Before Adding Dependencies

1. Check npm page - Downloads, maintenance, issues
2. Check Snyk DB - Known vulnerabilities
3. Check Socket.dev - Supply chain risks
4. Check license - Compatibility

Evaluation Checklist

• Active maintenance (recent commits)
• High download count
• No critical vulnerabilities
• Acceptable license
• Reasonable dependency tree
• Type definitions available

Automated Security

Dependabot Configuration

# .github/dependabot.yml
version: 2
updates:
  - package-ecosystem: "npm"
    directory: "/"
    schedule:
      interval: "weekly"
    open-pull-requests-limit: 10
    groups:
      dev-dependencies:
        dependency-type: "development"

Renovate Configuration

{
  "extends": ["config:base"],
  "packageRules": [
    {
      "matchUpdateTypes": ["minor", "patch"],
      "automerge": true
    }
  ]
}

CI Pipeline Security

name: Security

on:
  push:
    branches: [main]
  pull_request:
  schedule:
    - cron: '0 0 * * *'  # Daily

jobs:
  audit:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Setup Node
        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
        with:
          node-version: '22'

      - name: Install dependencies
        run: npm ci

      - name: npm audit
        run: npm audit --audit-level=high

      - name: Snyk scan
        uses: snyk/actions/node@master
        env:
          SNYK_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SNYK_TOKEN }}

Handling Vulnerabilities

When Patch Available

npm audit fix
# or
npm update vulnerable-package

When No Patch Available

1. Check if vulnerability applies - May not affect your usage
2. Use override - Force specific version

{
  "overrides": {
    "vulnerable-package": "2.0.0"
  }
}

3. Replace dependency - Find alternative
4. Accept risk - Document and track

Documentation

## Security Exceptions

### vulnerable-package@1.0.0
- **Vulnerability**: CVE-2024-XXXXX
- **Reason Accepted**: Only used in tests, not production
- **Review Date**: 2024-12-01
- **Assignee**: @developer

Best Practices Summary

1. Run audit regularly - At least weekly
2. Use multiple tools - npm audit + Snyk + Socket
3. Automate updates - Dependabot or Renovate
4. Review before merge - Check lock file changes
5. Document exceptions - Track accepted risks
6. Monitor dependencies - Snyk monitor
7. Keep dependencies minimal - Fewer deps = smaller attack surface

Code Review Checklist

• npm audit passes with no high/critical
• Lock file committed
• New dependencies evaluated
• Vulnerable dependencies documented
• CI security checks configured
• Dependabot/Renovate enabled