Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Offensive Dependency Confusion agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The offensive-dependency-confusion skill is a methodology file that gives an AI agent a structured playbook for dependency confusion and namespace attacks across npm, PyPI, NuGet, Maven, Gradle, Go, RubyGems and Docker. It is written for authorized penetration testers and red teams. This guide explains what a skill is, how to install this one, how to ask for its help with natural requests, and what to keep in mind before using it.
Offensive Dependency ConfusionSnailSploit/Claude-Red · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Get the offensive-dependency-confusion skill ZIP from the directory page. It contains SKILL.md.
- 2Unzip into a skills folder. Place the offensive-dependency-confusion folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
- 3Or upload in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, open Settings, go to Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the skill.
- 4Confirm authorization. Get written permission from the target organization and define the scope before any live testing.
- 5Ask a scoped question. Describe the ecosystem and goal in plain language, and state that the work is authorized.
- 6Gather allowed artifacts. Provide lock files, manifests or configs you are permitted to review so the agent can reason from them.
- 7Record findings and remediation. Ask for the defensive countermeasures and document each finding for the engagement report.
What an agent skill is and what this one does
An agent skill is a folder containing instructions, usually a SKILL.md file, that an AI agent can load when a task matches the skill's description. Nothing runs on its own. The agent reads the instructions and follows them during a conversation or task.
This skill covers dependency confusion, where a build system installs a public package instead of a company's private internal package because the public one has a higher version number or the registry configuration does not pin internal names. The skill describes how to find internal package names from lock files, JavaScript source maps, error messages, public GitHub code and package manifests. It also describes registry-specific mechanics and configuration weaknesses for each ecosystem, a proof-of-concept approach that uses safe callbacks such as an interactsh or Burp Collaborator DNS canary with no destructive payload, and defensive hardening points for an engagement report.
Install the skill (ZIP download or upload)
Download the skill ZIP from the directory page. The package contains SKILL.md. Unzip it so the offensive-dependency-confusion folder sits inside one of these locations: ~/.claude/skills/ for use across all your projects, or a project's .claude/skills/ folder for use in that project only.
If you use the Claude apps instead, open Settings, go to Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the skill there.
- Personal install: place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: place the folder in the project's .claude/skills/ directory
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the skill
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need a special command. Describe the task in plain language that matches the skill's scope, and the agent will load the methodology when it fits. Name the ecosystem and the goal, and state that the work is authorized, so the agent frames its help around the engagement.
Examples of requests that match the skill's scope:
- Help me plan a dependency confusion assessment for an authorized engagement against an npm and PyPI codebase.
- Which lock file fields and source map paths could reveal internal package names in this project?
- Review this .npmrc and explain where registry mappings fail to pin internal scopes.
- Draft the defensive hardening section of our report on NuGet feed priority risk.
- Explain how Maven repository ordering could let a public artifact win resolution.
What you need before you start
The skill's recon examples assume shell tools such as curl, jq, grep and sed. Code search examples assume the GitHub CLI (gh) with an account. PoC work assumes access to public registries such as npm, PyPI and Docker Hub, plus an interactsh or Burp Collaborator callback server.
Most importantly, you need written authorization from the target organization for any live testing. Without it, do not run the reconnaissance or PoC steps against real systems.
- Shell tools: curl, jq, grep, sed
- GitHub CLI (gh) with an account for code search
- Access to public registries and an interactsh or Burp Collaborator callback server
- Written authorization from the target organization
Safety notes: scripts and network access
The skill does not run scripts by itself, but it does use the network. Its examples query public registries, fetch JavaScript bundles and source maps from target hosts, and call GitHub search. Those requests can be logged by the target and third parties, so scope them to what the engagement allows.
Publishing packages to public registries can affect real companies. The skill's own workflow includes removing the PoC package after confirmation or once the engagement window closes, and that step matters. Treat any publication as a decision that needs authorization and a rollback plan.
- The skill runs no scripts; the commands in it are examples you or the agent run.
- Live recon and callbacks touch real infrastructure, so confirm scope first.
- Keep PoC callbacks harmless and document every published package.
Tips for getting useful results
Give the agent the artifacts you are allowed to review, such as a sanitized package.json, .npmrc or nuget.config, and ask it to reason from those. Ask for the defensive countermeasures alongside each finding so your report is balanced.
If you are learning, ask the agent to explain why a given resolution order produces the risk. That is the core lesson of the skill and it transfers to any package manager.
- Paste configuration files you own or are authorized to review.
- Ask for the reasoning behind each risk, not only the commands.
- Request the remediation section for every ecosystem you cover in the report.
What people use it for
- Planning an authorized dependency confusion assessment across several package ecosystems
- Reviewing .npmrc, nuget.config or pip extra-index settings for resolution risks during a code review
- Drafting report sections that explain dependency confusion risk and remediation to engineering teams
- Teaching students how package resolution order creates supply-chain vulnerabilities
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the offensive dependency confusion skill?
Download the skill ZIP from the directory page and unzip it so the offensive-dependency-confusion folder sits in ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps, you can instead upload it under Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills.
Is this skill free to use?
The source material provided for this page does not state pricing or licence terms beyond the MIT licence listed for the item. Check the licence file in the repository for the terms that apply to your use.
What do I need installed to use it?
The skill's examples assume shell tools such as curl, jq, grep and sed, the GitHub CLI (gh) with an account for code search, and an interactsh or Burp Collaborator callback server for PoC work. Live testing also requires written authorization from the target organization.
Does the skill run scripts on my machine?
No. The skill is listed as running no scripts. It does use the network, because its examples query registries and target hosts, so you should limit that activity to what your engagement permits.
Is this skill safe to use on any company's packages?
No. It is intended for authorized engagements only. Publishing packages to public registries can affect real companies and is illegal without authorization, so get written permission before any live testing.
What should I use instead if I just want to protect my own builds?
The skill's own guidance points to defensive material for registry scoping and pinning being more useful for developers protecting their own builds. Look for a defensive guide on configuring private scopes and pinning registries rather than an offensive playbook.
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Our verdict
This skill suits security professionals running authorized supply-chain engagements, red teams writing dependency confusion reports, and students learning how package resolution creates risk. It is a poor fit for anyone without written permission to test a target, for developers who only want to harden their own builds, or for non-security users who are not comfortable with package managers and attack tooling.
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