spectra-audit

name	spectra-audit
description	Audit changed code for security sharp edges — dangerous defaults, type confusion, and silent failures
context	fork
agent	Explore
disallowedTools	["Edit","Write"]
license	MIT
compatibility	Requires spectra CLI.
metadata	{"author":"spectra","version":"1.0","generatedBy":"Spectra"}

Audit changed code for security sharp edges in a Claude Code fork. This generated skill is report-only: it SHALL NOT edit files and SHALL NOT apply fixes directly inside the fork.

Claude fork context

Run git diff HEAD to gather the current changes. If there are no changes, report that no security sharp edges were found and stop.

Analyze the diff through the Scoundrel, Lazy Developer, and Confused Developer lenses. Return a consolidated report with findings grouped by severity, affected files, and recommended fixes. The main thread decides whether to apply any fixes.

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Core Framework

Three Adversaries

Role	Mindset	Key Questions
Scoundrel	Malicious, deliberate exploitation	Can I disable security via config? Downgrade algorithms? Inject values?
Lazy Developer	Copy-paste, skips docs, deadline pressure	Is the first example safe? Is the default secure? Do errors guide me right?
Confused Developer	Misunderstands usage	Can I swap params silently? Will mistakes fail loudly? Are types distinguishable?

Six Trap Categories

1. Algorithm Choice Traps

Letting developers choose algorithms = inviting them to choose wrong.

# Dangerous: accepts arbitrary algorithm
OpenSSL::Digest.new(algorithm).hexdigest(password)  # algorithm = "md5"?

# Safe: no choice
BCrypt::Password.create(password)  # can't pick wrong

2. Dangerous Defaults

Defaults that are insecure, or zero/empty values that disable security.

# What does timeout=0 mean? Never expire? Expire immediately?
def verify_token(token, timeout: 300)
  return true if timeout == 0  # 0 = skip verification?!
end

Key question: What do timeout=0, max_attempts=0, key="", nil each mean?

3. Raw Primitives vs Semantic Types

Using raw bytes/strings instead of meaningful types invites type confusion.

# Dangerous: both params are strings, swappable
encrypt(message, key, nonce)

# Safe: types protect against swapping
encrypt(message, Key.new(k), Nonce.new(n))

4. Configuration Cliffs

One wrong config value = disaster, with no warning.

# A typo = security mechanism disappears
verify_ssl: fasle # not "false", might be treated as truthy?

# Dangerous combination
auth_required: true
bypass_auth_for_health: true
health_check_path: "/" # oops, entire site bypasses auth

5. Silent Failures

Security errors that don't surface, or "success" masking failure.

# Silent bypass
def verify_signature(sig, data, key)
  return true if key.nil?  # no key = skip verification?!
end

# Return value ignored
result = crypto.verify(data, sig)  # returns false but nobody checks

6. Stringly-Typed Security

Security-critical values as plain strings = open door for injection and confusion.

# Dangerous: string concatenation
permissions = "read,write"
permissions += ",admin"   # too easy to escalate

# Safe: use enums
permissions = Set[Permission::READ, Permission::WRITE]

Severity Classification

Severity	Condition	Example
Critical	Default or most obvious usage is insecure	verify: false is default, empty password accepted
High	Easy misconfiguration breaks security	Algorithm param accepts "none"
Medium	Uncommon but possible misconfiguration	Negative timeout has unexpected behavior
Low	Requires deliberate misuse	Obscure parameter combination

Rationalization Table

Excuse	Why It's Wrong	What To Do
"Docs explain it"	Devs skip docs under deadlines	Make the safe option the default or only option
"Advanced users need flexibility"	Flexibility = foot-gun opportunity	Provide safe high-level API, hide low-level primitives
"It's the developer's responsibility"	You designed the trap	Remove the trap or make it impossible to misuse
"Nobody would do that"	Devs under pressure do everything	Assume maximum developer chaos
"It's just a config option"	Config is code; wrong config ships to prod	Validate config, reject dangerous combinations
"Backwards compatibility"	Insecure defaults can't be grandfathered	Deprecate loudly, force migration