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Security Review

SentryOfficialPublished by Sentry

  • Skill
  • Review and audit
  • Security
  • CC-BY-SA-4.0
  • Medium risk

From the author

Security code review for vulnerabilities. Use when asked to "security review", "find vulnerabilities", "check for security issues", "audit security", "OWASP review", or review code for injection, XSS, authentication, authorization, cryptography issues. Provides systematic review with confidence-based reporting.
— the description by Sentry

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

The Security Review skill provides a structured approach to auditing code for security vulnerabilities. It emphasizes deep research into data flow and context to distinguish between theoretical risks and truly exploitable issues. By focusing on attacker-controlled inputs and framework-specific mitigations, it reduces false positives and ensures that reported findings are actionable and high-confidence.

What it does

  • Performs systematic security audits on provided code snippets or files.
  • Traces data flow to confirm if inputs are attacker-controlled or server-controlled.
  • Evaluates code against common vulnerability patterns like injection, XSS, and authentication flaws.
  • Filters out false positives by checking for framework-level protections and sanitization.
  • Categorizes findings by severity and confidence levels.
  • Provides a standardized reporting format for identified vulnerabilities.

When to use it

  • When you need to audit code for potential security vulnerabilities.
  • When performing an OWASP-based security review.
  • When you need to verify if a specific code pattern is exploitable.
  • When checking for common security issues like SQL injection, XSS, or insecure authentication.

Advantages

  • Reduces noise by filtering out theoretical issues and server-controlled configurations.
  • Ensures high-confidence reporting by requiring codebase research before flagging.
  • Provides clear, actionable remediation advice for identified vulnerabilities.
  • Standardizes the security review process across different codebases.

Usage examples

“Perform a security review on this file: [code snippet]”
The agent will analyze the code, trace the data flow of inputs, and provide a report of any high-confidence vulnerabilities found, or state that none were identified.
“Check this API endpoint for potential injection vulnerabilities.”
The agent will examine the endpoint's input handling and database queries to determine if user input is properly parameterized or sanitized.
“Audit this authentication logic for security issues.”
The agent will review the authentication implementation against best practices, such as password storage algorithms and brute-force protections.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/getsentry/security-review/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip security-review.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Sentry

<!-- Reference material based on OWASP Cheat Sheet Series (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org/ -->

Security Review Skill

Identify exploitable security vulnerabilities in code. Report only HIGH CONFIDENCE findings—clear vulnerable patterns with attacker-controlled input.

Scope: Research vs. Reporting

CRITICAL DISTINCTION:

  • Report on: Only the specific file, diff, or code provided by the user

  • Research: The ENTIRE codebase to build confidence before reporting

Before flagging any issue, you MUST research the codebase to understand:

  • Where does this input actually come from? (Trace data flow)

  • Is there validation/sanitization elsewhere?

  • How is this configured? (Check settings, config files, middleware)

  • What framework protections exist?

Do NOT report issues based solely on pattern matching. Investigate first, then report only what you're confident is exploitable.

Confidence Levels

LevelCriteriaAction
HIGHVulnerable pattern + attacker-controlled input confirmedReport with severity
MEDIUMVulnerable pattern, input source unclearNote as "Needs verification"
LOWTheoretical, best practice, defense-in-depthDo not report

Do Not Flag

General Rules
  • Test files (unless explicitly reviewing test security)

  • Dead code, commented code, documentation strings

  • Patterns using constants or server-controlled configuration

  • Code paths that require prior authentication to reach (note the auth requirement instead)

Server-Controlled Values (NOT Attacker-Controlled)

These are configured by operators, not controlled by attackers:

SourceExampleWhy It's Safe
Django settingssettings.API_URL, settings.ALLOWED_HOSTSSet via config/env at deployment
Environment variablesos.environ.get('DATABASE_URL')Deployment configuration
Config filesconfig.yaml, app.config['KEY']Server-side files
Framework constantsdjango.conf.settings.*Not user-modifiable
Hardcoded valuesBASE_URL = "https://api.internal"Compile-time constants

SSRF Example - NOT a vulnerability:

# SAFE: URL comes from Django settings (server-controlled)
response = requests.get(f"{settings.SEER_AUTOFIX_URL}{path}")

SSRF Example - IS a vulnerability:

# VULNERABLE: URL comes from request (attacker-controlled)
response = requests.get(request.GET.get('url'))
Framework-Mitigated Patterns

Check language guides before flagging. Common false positives:

PatternWhy It's Usually Safe
Django {{ variable }}Auto-escaped by default
React {variable}Auto-escaped by default
Vue {{ variable }}Auto-escaped by default
User.objects.filter(id=input)ORM parameterizes queries
cursor.execute("...%s", (input,))Parameterized query
innerHTML = "<b>Loading...</b>"Constant string, no user input

Only flag these when:

  • Django: {{ var|safe }}, {% autoescape off %}, mark_safe(user_input)

  • React: dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{__html: userInput}}

  • Vue: v-html="userInput"

  • ORM: .raw(), .extra(), RawSQL() with string interpolation

Review Process

1. Detect Context

What type of code am I reviewing?

Code TypeLoad These References
API endpoints, routesauthorization.md, authentication.md, injection.md
Django/DRF views, permission classes, object-level accessUse the django-access-review skill if available for access control; otherwise authorization.md
Frontend, templatesxss.md, csrf.md, modern-threats.md (DOM clobbering, prototype pollution)
File handling, uploadsfile-security.md
Crypto, secrets, tokenscryptography.md, data-protection.md
Data serializationdeserialization.md
External requestsssrf.md
Business workflowsbusiness-logic.md
GraphQL, REST designapi-security.md
Config, headers, CORSmisconfiguration.md
CI/CD, dependenciessupply-chain.md
Error handlingerror-handling.md
Audit, logginglogging.md
Object merging/cloning, __proto__, DOM id/name lookups, WebSocket handlers, LLM prompt constructionmodern-threats.md
2. Load Language Guide

Based on file extension or imports:

IndicatorsGuide
.py, django, flask, fastapilanguages/python.md
.js, .ts, express, react, vue, nextlanguages/javascript.md

For other languages there is no dedicated guide; rely on the references/ files and verify framework protections directly in the codebase.

3. Load Infrastructure Guide (if applicable)
File TypeGuide
Dockerfile, .dockerignoreinfrastructure/docker.md
GitHub Actions workflowsUse the gha-security-review skill if available; otherwise references/supply-chain.md
Other CI/CD pipelines, lockfiles, package manifestsreferences/supply-chain.md
4. Research Before Flagging

For each potential issue, research the codebase to build confidence:

  • Where does this value actually come from? Trace the data flow.

  • Is it configured at deployment (settings, env vars) or from user input?

  • Is there validation, sanitization, or allowlisting elsewhere?

  • What framework protections apply?

Only report issues where you have HIGH confidence after understanding the broader context.

5. Verify Exploitability

For each potential finding, confirm:

Is the input attacker-controlled?

Attacker-Controlled (Investigate)Server-Controlled (Usually Safe)
request.GET, request.POST, request.argssettings.X, app.config['X']
request.json, request.data, request.bodyos.environ.get('X')
request.headers (most headers)Hardcoded constants
request.cookies (unsigned)Internal service URLs from config
URL path segments: /users/<id>/Database content from admin/system
File uploads (content and names)Signed session data
Database content from other usersFramework settings
WebSocket messages

Does the framework mitigate this?

  • Check language guide for auto-escaping, parameterization

  • Check for middleware/decorators that sanitize

Is there validation upstream?

  • Input validation before this code

  • Sanitization libraries (DOMPurify, bleach, etc.)

6. Report HIGH Confidence Only

Skip theoretical issues. Report only what you've confirmed is exploitable after research.


Severity Classification

SeverityImpactExamples
CriticalDirect exploit, severe impact, no auth requiredRCE, SQL injection to data, auth bypass, hardcoded secrets
HighExploitable with conditions, significant impactStored XSS, SSRF to metadata, IDOR to sensitive data
MediumSpecific conditions required, moderate impactReflected XSS, CSRF on state-changing actions, path traversal
LowDefense-in-depth, minimal direct impactMissing headers, verbose errors, weak algorithms in non-critical context

Quick Patterns Reference

Always Flag (Critical)
eval(user_input)           # Any language
exec(user_input)           # Any language
pickle.loads(user_data)    # Python
yaml.load(user_data)       # Python (not safe_load)
unserialize($user_data)    # PHP
deserialize(user_data)     # Java ObjectInputStream
shell=True + user_input    # Python subprocess
child_process.exec(user)   # Node.js
Always Flag (High)
innerHTML = userInput              # DOM XSS
dangerouslySetInnerHTML={user}     # React XSS
v-html="userInput"                 # Vue XSS
f"SELECT * FROM x WHERE {user}"    # SQL injection
`SELECT * FROM x WHERE ${user}`    # SQL injection
os.system(f"cmd {user_input}")     # Command injection
Always Flag (Secrets)
password = "hardcoded"
api_key = "sk-..."
AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY = "..."
private_key = "-----BEGIN"
Check Context First (MUST Investigate Before Flagging)
# SSRF - ONLY if URL is from user input, NOT from settings/config
requests.get(request.GET['url'])     # FLAG: User-controlled URL
requests.get(settings.API_URL)       # SAFE: Server-controlled config
requests.get(f"{settings.BASE}/{x}") # CHECK: Is 'x' user input?

# Path traversal - ONLY if path is from user input
open(request.GET['file'])            # FLAG: User-controlled path
open(settings.LOG_PATH)              # SAFE: Server-controlled config
open(f"{BASE_DIR}/{filename}")       # CHECK: Is 'filename' user input?

# Open redirect - ONLY if URL is from user input
redirect(request.GET['next'])        # FLAG: User-controlled redirect
redirect(settings.LOGIN_URL)         # SAFE: Server-controlled config

# Weak crypto - ONLY if used for security purposes
hashlib.md5(file_content)            # SAFE: File checksums, caching
hashlib.md5(password)                # FLAG: Password hashing
random.random()                      # SAFE: Non-security uses (UI, sampling)
random.random() for token            # FLAG: Security tokens need secrets module

Output Format

## Security Review: [File/Component Name]

### Summary
- **Findings**: X (Y Critical, Z High, ...)
- **Risk Level**: Critical/High/Medium/Low
- **Confidence**: High/Mixed

### Findings

#### [VULN-001] [Vulnerability Type] (Severity)
- **Location**: `file.py:123`
- **Confidence**: High
- **Issue**: [What the vulnerability is]
- **Impact**: [What an attacker could do]
- **Evidence**:
  ```python
  [Vulnerable code snippet]
  • Fix: [How to remediate]

Needs Verification
[VERIFY-001] [Potential Issue]
  • Location: file.py:456

  • Question: [What needs to be verified]


If no vulnerabilities found, state: "No high-confidence vulnerabilities identified."

---

## Reference Files

### Core Vulnerabilities (`references/`)
| File | Covers |
|------|--------|
| `injection.md` | SQL, NoSQL, OS command, LDAP, template injection |
| `xss.md` | Reflected, stored, DOM-based XSS |
| `authorization.md` | Authorization, IDOR, privilege escalation |
| `authentication.md` | Sessions, credentials, password storage |
| `cryptography.md` | Algorithms, key management, randomness |
| `deserialization.md` | Pickle, YAML, Java, PHP deserialization |
| `file-security.md` | Path traversal, uploads, XXE |
| `ssrf.md` | Server-side request forgery |
| `csrf.md` | Cross-site request forgery |
| `data-protection.md` | Secrets exposure, PII, logging |
| `api-security.md` | REST, GraphQL, mass assignment |
| `business-logic.md` | Race conditions, workflow bypass |
| `modern-threats.md` | Prototype pollution, LLM injection, WebSocket |
| `misconfiguration.md` | Headers, CORS, debug mode, defaults |
| `error-handling.md` | Fail-open, information disclosure |
| `supply-chain.md` | Dependencies, build security |
| `logging.md` | Audit failures, log injection |

### Language Guides (`languages/`)
- `python.md` - Django, Flask, FastAPI patterns
- `javascript.md` - Node, Express, React, Vue, Next.js

### Infrastructure (`infrastructure/`)
- `docker.md` - Container security

Files

languages/python.md

Python Security Patterns

Framework Detection

IndicatorFramework
from django, settings.py, urls.py, views.pyDjango
from flask, @app.routeFlask
from fastapi, @app.get, @app.postFastAPI
import tornadoTornado
from pyramidPyramid

Django

Server-Controlled Values (NEVER Flag)

Django settings are deployment configuration, not attacker input:

# SAFE: All django.conf.settings values are server-controlled
from django.conf import settings

requests.get(settings.EXTERNAL_API_URL)      # NOT SSRF - configured at deployment
requests.get(f"{settings.SEER_URL}{path}")   # NOT SSRF - base URL is server-controlled
open(settings.LOG_FILE_PATH)                 # NOT path traversal
db.connect(settings.DATABASE_URL)            # NOT injection

# SAFE: Environment-based configuration
API_URL = os.environ.get('API_URL')
requests.get(API_URL)  # Server operator controls this

# SAFE: Settings from Django's settings.py
DEBUG = settings.DEBUG
ALLOWED_HOSTS = settings.ALLOWED_HOSTS
SECRET_KEY = settings.SECRET_KEY  # (check it's not hardcoded in repo though)

Only flag settings-based code if:

  • The setting value itself is hardcoded in committed code (secrets exposure)

  • The setting value is somehow derived from user input (rare, investigate)

Auto-Escaped (Do Not Flag)
# SAFE: Django auto-escapes template variables
{{ variable }}
{{ user.name }}
{{ form.field }}

# SAFE: ORM methods are parameterized
User.objects.filter(username=user_input)
User.objects.get(id=user_id)
User.objects.exclude(status=status)
MyModel.objects.create(name=name)

# SAFE: Django's built-in CSRF protection (if enabled)
{% csrf_token %}
@csrf_protect
Flag These (Django-Specific)
# XSS - Explicit unsafe marking
{{ variable|safe }}                    # FLAG: Disables escaping
{% autoescape off %}...{% endautoescape %}  # FLAG: Disables escaping
mark_safe(user_input)                  # FLAG: If user_input is user-controlled
format_html() with unescaped input     # CHECK: Depends on usage

# SQL Injection
User.objects.raw(f"SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = '{user_input}'")  # FLAG
User.objects.extra(where=[f"name = '{user_input}'"])  # FLAG (deprecated)
cursor.execute(f"SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = {user_id}")  # FLAG
RawSQL(f"SELECT * FROM x WHERE y = '{input}'")  # FLAG
connection.execute(query % user_input)  # FLAG

# Command Injection
os.system(f"cmd {user_input}")  # FLAG
subprocess.run(cmd, shell=True)  # FLAG if cmd contains user input
subprocess.Popen(cmd, shell=True)  # FLAG if cmd contains user input

# Deserialization
pickle.loads(user_data)  # FLAG: Always critical
yaml.load(user_data)  # FLAG: Use yaml.safe_load()
yaml.load(data, Loader=yaml.Loader)  # FLAG: Unsafe loader

# File Operations
open(user_controlled_path)  # CHECK: Path traversal
send_file(user_path)  # CHECK: Path traversal
Django Security Settings
# Check settings.py for:

# VULNERABLE configurations
DEBUG = True  # FLAG in production
ALLOWED_HOSTS = ['*']  # FLAG
SECRET_KEY = 'hardcoded-value'  # FLAG if committed
CSRF_COOKIE_SECURE = False  # FLAG in production
SESSION_COOKIE_SECURE = False  # FLAG in production

# Missing security middleware - CHECK if absent
MIDDLEWARE = [
    # Should include:
    'django.middleware.security.SecurityMiddleware',
    'django.middleware.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware',
]

Flask

Safe Patterns (Do Not Flag)
# SAFE: Jinja2 auto-escapes by default
{{ variable }}
render_template('template.html', name=user_input)

# SAFE: Parameterized queries with SQLAlchemy
db.session.query(User).filter(User.name == user_input)
db.session.execute(text("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = :id"), {"id": user_id})

# SAFE: Flask-WTF CSRF (if configured)
form.validate_on_submit()
Flag These (Flask-Specific)
# XSS
Markup(user_input)  # FLAG: Marks as safe HTML
render_template_string(user_input)  # FLAG: SSTI vulnerability
{{ variable|safe }}  # FLAG in templates

# SQL Injection
db.engine.execute(f"SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = '{user_input}'")  # FLAG
text(f"SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = {user_id}")  # FLAG

# SSTI (Server-Side Template Injection)
render_template_string(user_controlled_template)  # FLAG: Critical
Template(user_input).render()  # FLAG: Critical

# Session Security
app.secret_key = 'hardcoded'  # FLAG
app.config['SECRET_KEY'] = 'weak'  # FLAG

# Debug Mode
app.run(debug=True)  # FLAG in production
app.debug = True  # FLAG in production

FastAPI

Safe Patterns (Do Not Flag)
# SAFE: Pydantic validates and sanitizes
@app.post("/users/")
async def create_user(user: UserCreate):  # Pydantic model validates
    pass

# SAFE: Path parameters with type hints
@app.get("/users/{user_id}")
async def get_user(user_id: int):  # Validated as int
    pass

# SAFE: SQLAlchemy ORM
db.query(User).filter(User.id == user_id).first()
Flag These (FastAPI-Specific)
# SQL Injection (same as Flask/SQLAlchemy)
db.execute(f"SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = {user_id}")  # FLAG
text(f"SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = '{name}'")  # FLAG

# Response without validation
@app.get("/data")
async def get_data():
    return user_controlled_dict  # CHECK: May expose sensitive fields

# Dependency injection bypass
@app.get("/admin")
async def admin(user: User = Depends(get_current_user)):
    # CHECK: Ensure get_current_user validates properly
    pass

General Python

Always Flag
# Deserialization - Always Critical
pickle.loads(data)
pickle.load(file)
cPickle.loads(data)
shelve.open(user_path)
marshal.loads(data)
yaml.load(data)  # Without Loader=SafeLoader
yaml.load(data, Loader=yaml.FullLoader)  # Still unsafe
yaml.load(data, Loader=yaml.UnsafeLoader)

# Code Execution - Always Critical
eval(user_input)
exec(user_input)
compile(user_input, '<string>', 'exec')
__import__(user_input)

# Command Injection - Critical
os.system(user_cmd)
os.popen(user_cmd)
subprocess.call(cmd, shell=True)  # If cmd has user input
subprocess.run(cmd, shell=True)   # If cmd has user input
subprocess.Popen(cmd, shell=True) # If cmd has user input
commands.getoutput(user_cmd)  # Python 2
Check Context
# SSRF - Check if URL is user-controlled
requests.get(user_url)
urllib.request.urlopen(user_url)
httpx.get(user_url)
aiohttp.ClientSession().get(user_url)

# Path Traversal - Check if path is user-controlled
open(user_path)
pathlib.Path(user_path).read_text()
os.path.join(base, user_input)  # ../../../etc/passwd possible
shutil.copy(user_src, user_dst)

# Weak Crypto - Check if for security purpose
hashlib.md5(password)  # FLAG if for passwords
hashlib.sha1(password)  # FLAG if for passwords
random.random()  # FLAG if for security (use secrets module)
random.randint()  # FLAG if for security

# Safe Alternatives
secrets.token_hex()  # For tokens
secrets.token_urlsafe()  # For URL-safe tokens
hashlib.pbkdf2_hmac()  # For password hashing
bcrypt.hashpw()  # For password hashing
Input Validation
# VULNERABLE: No validation
def process(data):
    return eval(data['expression'])

# SAFE: Type validation
def process(data: dict):
    if not isinstance(data.get('value'), int):
        raise ValueError("Invalid input")
    return data['value'] * 2

# SAFE: Schema validation
from pydantic import BaseModel, validator

class UserInput(BaseModel):
    name: str
    age: int

    @validator('name')
    def name_must_be_safe(cls, v):
        if not v.isalnum():
            raise ValueError('Name must be alphanumeric')
        return v

SQLAlchemy Patterns

Safe (Do Not Flag)
# ORM methods - automatically parameterized
session.query(User).filter(User.name == name)
session.query(User).filter_by(name=name)
User.query.filter(User.id == id).first()

# Parameterized text queries
from sqlalchemy import text
session.execute(text("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = :id"), {"id": user_id})
Flag These
# String interpolation in queries
session.execute(f"SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = '{name}'")
session.execute("SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = '%s'" % name)
session.execute("SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = '" + name + "'")

# text() with interpolation
session.execute(text(f"SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = {user_id}"))

Common Mistakes

Type Confusion
# VULNERABLE: JSON numbers become floats
data = request.get_json()
user_id = data['id']  # Could be float, string, dict, etc.
User.query.get(user_id)  # May behave unexpectedly

# SAFE: Explicit type conversion
user_id = int(data['id'])
Race Conditions
# VULNERABLE: TOCTOU
if user.balance >= amount:
    # Another request could modify balance here
    user.balance -= amount

# SAFE: Atomic operation
User.query.filter(User.id == user_id, User.balance >= amount).update(
    {User.balance: User.balance - amount}
)

Grep Patterns

# Django unsafe patterns
grep -rn "mark_safe\||safe\|autoescape off\|\.raw(\|\.extra(" --include="*.py"

# Flask SSTI
grep -rn "render_template_string\|Template(" --include="*.py"

# Deserialization
grep -rn "pickle\.load\|yaml\.load\|marshal\.load" --include="*.py"

# Command injection
grep -rn "os\.system\|subprocess.*shell=True\|os\.popen" --include="*.py"

# SQL injection
grep -rn "execute.*f\"\|execute.*%\|\.raw.*f\"" --include="*.py"

Requirements and compatibility

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Needs: Declares allowed tools, Needs an API key, Needs Python

Security

What our scanner noticed· Medium risk

  • References to credential files
  • Instructions that use the network
  • Encoded commands that are executed
  • Downloads piped into a shell

A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.

Attribution and licence

Published by
Sentry
Publisher
Sentry (Official)
Source
getsentry/skills · skills/security-review · commit e94f222
Licence
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (redistribution allowed)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
Synced

AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sentry.

Download ZIP

The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download security-review.zip