vulnerability-scanner
Security vulnerability scanning for dependencies and code, with CVE database checking and risk assessment
Best use case
vulnerability-scanner is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Security vulnerability scanning for dependencies and code, with CVE database checking and risk assessment
Teams using vulnerability-scanner should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/vulnerability-scanner/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How vulnerability-scanner Compares
| Feature / Agent | vulnerability-scanner | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Security vulnerability scanning for dependencies and code, with CVE database checking and risk assessment
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Vulnerability Scanner Skill
Performs comprehensive security vulnerability scanning for dependencies and code, integrating with CVE databases and security platforms to identify, assess, and prioritize security risks for migration planning.
## Purpose
Enable comprehensive security vulnerability detection for:
- CVE database checking for known vulnerabilities
- Severity assessment and prioritization
- Exploitability analysis
- Patch availability checking
- Transitive vulnerability chain mapping
- Risk scoring and remediation guidance
## Capabilities
### 1. CVE Database Checking
- Query NVD (National Vulnerability Database)
- Check GitHub Advisory Database
- Query vendor-specific advisory databases
- Cross-reference multiple CVE sources
- Track CVE publication dates and updates
### 2. Severity Assessment
- CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) scoring
- Severity categorization (Critical, High, Medium, Low)
- Environmental score adjustments
- Temporal score analysis
- Impact assessment
### 3. Exploitability Analysis
- Check for known exploits in the wild
- Assess attack vector complexity
- Evaluate privileges required
- Analyze user interaction requirements
- Track exploit maturity level
### 4. Patch Availability Checking
- Identify available patches and fixes
- Check for security advisories
- Find upgrade paths to secure versions
- Track vendor patch timelines
- Monitor backport availability
### 5. Transitive Vulnerability Chain Mapping
- Map vulnerability paths through dependency trees
- Identify all affected dependency chains
- Calculate exposure scope
- Prioritize based on path depth
- Recommend targeted remediations
### 6. Risk Scoring
- Calculate composite risk scores
- Factor in business context
- Assess exposure likelihood
- Evaluate potential impact
- Generate prioritized remediation lists
## Tool Integrations
This skill can leverage the following external tools when available:
| Tool | Purpose | Integration Method |
|------|---------|-------------------|
| Snyk | Comprehensive vulnerability scanning | CLI / API |
| npm audit | Node.js vulnerability scanning | CLI |
| OWASP Dependency-Check | Cross-platform scanning | CLI |
| Trivy | Container and filesystem scanning | MCP Server / CLI |
| Grype | Vulnerability scanner | CLI |
| GitHub Dependabot | Advisory checking | API |
| OSV Scanner | Google's vulnerability scanner | CLI |
| Semgrep | SAST with security rules | CLI |
| MCP-Scan | MCP server security | Tool |
## Usage
### Basic Scanning
```bash
# Invoke skill for vulnerability scanning
# The skill will scan dependencies and optionally code
# Expected inputs:
# - targetPath: Path to project root
# - scanScope: 'dependencies' | 'code' | 'full'
# - severityThreshold: 'critical' | 'high' | 'medium' | 'low'
# - outputFormat: 'json' | 'sarif' | 'markdown'
```
### Scanning Workflow
1. **Discovery Phase**
- Identify package managers and dependency files
- Detect codebase languages
- Check for existing security configurations
2. **Dependency Scanning**
- Extract dependency information
- Query vulnerability databases
- Map vulnerabilities to dependencies
3. **Code Scanning (Optional)**
- Run SAST analysis
- Check for security anti-patterns
- Identify hardcoded secrets
4. **Analysis Phase**
- Calculate severity scores
- Assess exploitability
- Check patch availability
- Map transitive chains
5. **Report Generation**
- Generate prioritized vulnerability list
- Provide remediation guidance
- Create compliance reports
## Output Schema
```json
{
"scanId": "string",
"timestamp": "ISO8601",
"target": {
"path": "string",
"packageManagers": ["string"],
"languages": ["string"]
},
"summary": {
"totalVulnerabilities": "number",
"critical": "number",
"high": "number",
"medium": "number",
"low": "number",
"fixable": "number",
"riskScore": "number (0-100)"
},
"vulnerabilities": [
{
"id": "string (CVE-XXXX-XXXXX)",
"title": "string",
"description": "string",
"severity": "critical|high|medium|low",
"cvss": {
"score": "number",
"vector": "string",
"version": "string"
},
"package": {
"name": "string",
"version": "string",
"ecosystem": "string"
},
"affectedVersions": "string",
"fixedVersions": "string",
"patchAvailable": "boolean",
"exploitability": {
"hasKnownExploit": "boolean",
"exploitMaturity": "string",
"attackVector": "string"
},
"dependencyPath": ["string"],
"references": ["string"],
"remediation": {
"recommendation": "string",
"upgradeTarget": "string",
"alternativePackages": ["string"]
}
}
],
"securityIssues": [
{
"type": "string",
"severity": "string",
"file": "string",
"line": "number",
"description": "string",
"cwe": "string",
"recommendation": "string"
}
],
"compliance": {
"passesPolicy": "boolean",
"violations": ["string"],
"waivers": ["string"]
}
}
```
## Integration with Migration Processes
This skill integrates with the following Code Migration/Modernization processes:
- **dependency-analysis-updates**: Security assessment of dependencies
- **security-remediation-migration**: Primary tool for security fixes
- **cloud-migration**: Security compliance for cloud deployment
- **legacy-codebase-assessment**: Security posture evaluation
## Configuration
### Skill Configuration File
Create `.vulnerability-scanner.json` in the project root:
```json
{
"scanScope": "full",
"severityThreshold": "medium",
"failOnSeverity": "critical",
"databases": ["nvd", "ghsa", "osv"],
"excludeVulnerabilities": [],
"waivers": [
{
"id": "CVE-2021-12345",
"reason": "Not exploitable in our context",
"expiresAt": "2026-06-01"
}
],
"policy": {
"maxCritical": 0,
"maxHigh": 5,
"requirePatchWithin": {
"critical": "7d",
"high": "30d",
"medium": "90d"
}
},
"reporting": {
"formats": ["json", "sarif", "markdown"],
"outputDir": "./security-report"
}
}
```
## MCP Server Integration
When MCP-Scan is available:
```javascript
// Example MCP security scan
{
"tool": "mcp_scan_security",
"arguments": {
"target": "./",
"checks": ["toolPoisoning", "piiDetection", "promptInjection"]
}
}
```
When Trivy is available:
```javascript
// Example Trivy vulnerability scan
{
"tool": "trivy_scan",
"arguments": {
"target": "./",
"scanners": ["vuln", "secret"],
"severity": "CRITICAL,HIGH"
}
}
```
## Vulnerability Databases
### Supported Databases
| Database | Coverage | Update Frequency |
|----------|----------|------------------|
| NVD | All CVEs | Hourly |
| GitHub Advisory | Open source packages | Real-time |
| OSV | Multi-ecosystem | Real-time |
| Snyk DB | Proprietary enrichment | Real-time |
| npm Advisory | Node.js packages | Real-time |
| RustSec | Rust packages | Real-time |
### Database Priority
1. GitHub Advisory Database (most accurate for open source)
2. NVD (comprehensive, standardized)
3. OSV (aggregated, multi-ecosystem)
4. Vendor-specific (ecosystem-specific details)
## Severity Classification
### CVSS v3.x Mapping
| CVSS Score | Severity | Action Required |
|------------|----------|-----------------|
| 9.0 - 10.0 | Critical | Immediate remediation |
| 7.0 - 8.9 | High | Priority remediation |
| 4.0 - 6.9 | Medium | Scheduled remediation |
| 0.1 - 3.9 | Low | Monitor and plan |
### Risk Prioritization Factors
1. **Severity Score**: Base CVSS score
2. **Exploitability**: Known exploits in the wild
3. **Exposure**: Internet-facing vs internal
4. **Dependency Depth**: Direct vs transitive
5. **Fix Availability**: Patch/upgrade available
## Best Practices
1. **Regular Scanning**: Integrate into CI/CD pipelines
2. **Policy Enforcement**: Define and enforce security policies
3. **Waiver Management**: Document and review waivers regularly
4. **Prioritization**: Focus on critical and exploitable vulnerabilities
5. **Monitoring**: Set up alerts for new vulnerabilities
6. **Remediation Tracking**: Track remediation progress over time
## Related Skills
- `dependency-scanner`: Dependency inventory and SBOM generation
- `static-code-analyzer`: Code-level security analysis
- `compliance-validator`: Compliance checking
## Related Agents
- `security-vulnerability-assessor`: Uses this skill for security assessment
- `dependency-modernization-agent`: Uses this skill for security updates
- `migration-readiness-assessor`: Uses this skill for security evaluation
## References
- [MCP-Scan](https://github.com/invariantlabs-ai/mcp-scan)
- [Trivy](https://aquasecurity.github.io/trivy/)
- [Snyk](https://snyk.io/)
- [OWASP Dependency-Check](https://owasp.org/www-project-dependency-check/)
- [OSV Scanner](https://google.github.io/osv-scanner/)
- [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/)
- [GitHub Advisory Database](https://github.com/advisories)Related Skills
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