# ghost-validate

Validates security vulnerability findings by tracing code paths and checking live endpoints. Separates true positive security bugs from scanner false positives.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 3800 installs · ★ 425
- Author: ghostsecurity
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/ghostsecurity/skills/tree/HEAD/plugins/ghost/skills/validate/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-09-28
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ghost-validate

## What it does

The skill inspects vulnerability findings provided as file paths or raw text. It identifies the vulnerability class, such as BFLA, BOLA, SQLi, or SSRF, and examines the source file at the specified line. Then it traces execution flow from route registration through middleware down to the handler.

When an active test target is accessible, the skill uses the reaper proxy to replay requests and check responses. It assigns a determination of True Positive, False Positive, or Inconclusive with an evidence summary and remediation steps. Live verification requires access to a running application instance and the proxy tool.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add ghostsecurity/skills --skill ghost-validate -a claude-code
```
```bash
npx skills add ghostsecurity/skills --skill validate -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/validate/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/validate/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add ghostsecurity/skills --skill validate -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/validate/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add ghostsecurity/skills --skill validate -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/validate/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install ghostsecurity/skills validate
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/validate/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add ghostsecurity/skills --skill validate -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/ghostsecurity/skills --path plugins/ghost/skills/validate
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/validate/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add ghostsecurity/skills --skill validate -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/ghostsecurity/skills/tree/HEAD/plugins/ghost/skills/validate/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- distinguish false positive alerts from true security bugs
- trace request paths from route definitions to handlers
- uncover hidden security controls in middleware and ORM layers
- append structured triage reports to finding files

## Example prompts
- Validate this finding in path/to/finding.md and determine if it is a true positive
- Check if the vulnerability reported in routes/transfers.go is real
- Triage this security finding and check whether the handler verifies ownership

## Source text · SKILL.md · Apache-2.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 428415623a81a863.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 428415623a81a863
```text
---
name: "ghost-validate"
description: This skill should be used when the user asks to "validate a finding", "check if a vulnerability is real", "triage a security finding", "confirm a vulnerability", "determine if a finding is a true positive or false positive", or provides a security finding for review. It validates security vulnerability findings by tracing data flows, verifying exploit conditions, analyzing security controls, and optionally testing attack vectors against a live application.
license: apache-2.0
metadata:
  version: 1.1.0
---

# Security Finding Validation

Determine whether a security finding is a true positive or false positive. Produce a determination with supporting evidence.

## Input

The user provides a finding as a file path or pasted text. If neither is provided, ask for one.

Extract: vulnerability class, specific claim, affected endpoint, code location, and any existing validation evidence.

## Validation Workflow

### Step 1: Understand the Finding

Identify:
- The vulnerability class (BFLA, BOLA, XSS, SQLi, SSRF, etc.)
- The specific claim being made (what authorization check is missing, what input is unsanitized, etc.)
- The affected endpoint and HTTP method
- The code location

### Step 2: Analyze the Source Code

1. Read the vulnerable file at the specified line number and all supporting files
2. Trace the request flow from route registration through middleware to the handler
3. Verify the specific claim — does the code actually lack the described check?
4. Look for indirect protections (middleware, helpers, ORM constraints) the scanner may have missed
5. Confirm the vulnerable code path is reachable under the described conditions

### Step 3: Live Validation (When Available)

If a live instance of the application is accessible and the vulnerability can be confirmed through live interaction, use the `proxy` skill to confirm exploitability:

1. Start reaper proxy scoped to the target domain
2. Authenticate (or have the user authenticate) as a legitimate user and capture a valid request to the vulnerable endpoint
3. Replay or modify the request to attempt the exploit described in the finding
4. Compare the response to expected behavior:
   - Does the unauthorized action succeed? (true positive)
   - Does the server reject it with 401/403/404? (false positive)
5. Capture the request/response pair as evidence using `reaper get <id>`

### Step 4: Make Determination

Classify the finding as one of:

- **True Positive**: The vulnerability exists and is exploitable. The code lacks the described protection and the endpoint is reachable.
- **True Positive (Confirmed)**: Same as above, plus live testing demonstrated successful exploitation.
- **False Positive**: The vulnerability does not exist. Provide the specific reason (indirect protection found, code path unreachable, etc.).
- **Inconclusive**: Cannot determine without additional information. Specify what is needed.

### Step 5: Report

Output a summary in the following format:

1. **Determination**: True Positive, False Positive, or Inconclusive
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 428415623a81a863

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 428415623a81a863 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

First 3083 of 4343 bytes. © ghostsecurity · Apache-2.0 · https://github.com/ghostsecurity/skills/tree/HEAD/plugins/ghost/skills/validate/SKILL.md

_Part of the page did not fit — see the HTML version._

---
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