Trim ~600 LOC off the original contribution while keeping the same
operator-facing surface and detection coverage.
- Collapse three entry points (file / dir / bundle) into one
ast_scan_path(path) that handles both files and directories.
- Drop AstFinding dataclass + severity field — replaced with plain
(file, line, pattern_id, description) tuples. Severity ordering was
display-only for a diagnostic that explicitly disclaims security
verdicts, so the field added bookkeeping without earning its place.
- Replace Rich-markup formatter with plain text grouped by file.
- Drop the 'inspect --ast-deep' surface — same scanner, same output as
'audit --deep', single CLI entry is enough. Operators audit after
install; pre-install inspection signal isn't worth the second surface.
- Trim test file to the cases that earn their place: bypass payload,
syntax error survival, RecursionError survival, false-positive guard
(importer lookalike), literal-arg false-positive guard, non-.py
ignored, directory recursion + cache-dir skipping, missing-path,
getattr/__dict__ detection, formatter empty + populated.
Net: tools/skills_ast_audit.py 353 -> 133 LOC,
tests/tools/test_skills_ast_audit.py 299 -> 103 LOC, full diff
+704/-12 -> +264/-6. No change to tools/skills_guard.py — Skills Guard
verdicts remain untouched per SECURITY.md §2.4.
Add opt-in AST diagnostics for skill review without making Skills Guard stricter by default.
- Add hermes skills inspect --ast-deep to scan fetched skill bundles before installation
- Add hermes skills audit --deep to scan already-installed hub skills
- Keep AST analysis in tools/skills_ast_audit.py, separate from tools/skills_guard.py
- Label output as diagnostic hints, not security verdicts
- Cover dynamic import/access patterns: importlib, __import__(computed), getattr(computed), and __dict__[computed]
This follows the maintainer guidance from closed PR #7436: useful AST-level analysis belongs in an opt-in diagnostic path, not in Skills Guard's default heuristic scan.
