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MEDIUM

GHSA-xq7h-vwjp-5vrh

@grackle-ai/powerline Runs Without Authentication by Default

Quick fix

GHSA-xq7h-vwjp-5vrh — @grackle-ai/powerline: upgrade to the fixed version with the command below.

npm install @grackle-ai/powerline@0.70.1

Details

### Impact

When `--token` is not provided and `GRACKLE_POWERLINE_TOKEN` is not set, the PowerLine gRPC server runs with **zero authentication**. A warning is logged (`"NO AUTH (development only)"`) but nothing prevents deployment in this state. Any client that can reach the PowerLine port can spawn agent sessions, access credential tokens, and execute code.

The default binding is `127.0.0.1` (loopback only), which limits exposure to the local machine. However, if PowerLine is accidentally exposed on a network (e.g., in a container or via port forwarding), the impact is critical.

**Affected code:** - `packages/powerline/src/index.ts:46` — token defaults to empty string - `packages/powerline/src/index.ts:63-76` — auth interceptor is only added when token is truthy

### Patches

0.70.1

**Fix:** Require an explicit `--no-auth` flag to run without authentication, rather than defaulting to no auth when the token is empty. Throw an error if starting without a token and without `--no-auth`.

### Workarounds

Always provide `--token` or set `GRACKLE_POWERLINE_TOKEN` when starting PowerLine. The Grackle server does this automatically when managing PowerLine lifecycle.

### Resources

- CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function - File: `packages/powerline/src/index.ts`

Are you affected?

Enter the version of the package you're using.

Affected packages

npm/@grackle-ai/powerline
Introduced in: 0Fixed in: 0.70.1
Fixnpm install @grackle-ai/powerline@0.70.1

References