Offense
Supports adding Offense to a repository via a generated installation pull request using pinned, read-only GitHub Actions, and retains dependency audit reports as GitHub artifacts.
Inspects GitHub Actions workflow YAML for security issues using the pinned Zizmor engine in isolated containers, without executing the workflows; a workflow template also adds free dependency audits to pull requests.
Inventories npm lockfiles, queries OSV/npm advisories for vulnerable dependencies, and surfaces upgrade options and constraints using an independent local engine.
Inventories pnpm lockfiles, queries OSV/npm advisories for vulnerable dependencies, and surfaces upgrade options and constraints using an independent local engine.
Offense
Security tools your AI agent can discover, call and verify.
Offense is a product by Offense Research, Inc.. Open-source software, optional paid hosting.
Give Pi, OMP, Hermes, Codex, Claude Code, Crush or another coding agent the tools to audit dependencies, inspect source and workflows, and test a proposed fix. Offense returns structured security evidence through CLI, MCP and HTTP. Your agent reads that evidence, investigates your code, makes authorized changes and runs your tests—with its existing model, repository access and permissions.
Open-source repository · Discord · Hosted service · Self-hosting · Contributing · Report a vulnerability
Start here: Give this to your agent · Add with a PR · Recipes · Install the CLI · Agent installation · Choose a mode · Local quick start · MCP setup · Self-hosted platform · Documentation · Troubleshooting · Community
Add Offense to your repository with a PR
Copy the workflow template into a new branch and open a pull request using the instructions above. No Offense account or API key is required. The browser-based installer is prepared in this repository but not deployed yet; the button links to the working manual instructions until it is live.
The starter adds free npm/pnpm dependency audits on pull requests using pinned, read-only GitHub Actions. It never installs or runs your app, edits code or calls paid Offense tools. Dependency metadata goes to OSV/npm; reports are retained as GitHub artifacts for seven days. Advisories are report-only; coverage warnings and scan errors fail the check. GitHub Actions usage limits and charges still apply. This is a dependency check, not the full tool catalog.
Review the template · Manual installation, privacy and updates
Related MCP server: GPT Commander
Give this to your agent
Paste this into your coding agent in the project you want to check:
Set up Offense for this project. Read the installation instructions at
https://github.com/offense-research/offense#install-the-offensesh-agent-skill
and review the skill at
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/offense-research/offense/main/.agents/skills/scanning-with-offense/SKILL.md
Reuse an existing reviewed Offense checkout or connection if available.
Otherwise inspect the public source before using its helpers. Install the
skill in this agent's project-local skill directory, preserving custom files
and other agent settings. Tell me if a new session or project trust is needed.
Run only the offline dependency-input preview. Show the selected lockfiles,
unsupported inputs and which execution mode would perform the real audit.
Do not upload data, run a paid scan, install the target project's dependencies,
edit application code, commit or push.The first success is a real preview and an explicit scope, not “installed” without a command result. The agent needs terminal/filesystem access and Node; copying a skill does not give a chat-only client those capabilities. If it cannot read GitHub pages, use the raw skill URL or a reviewed local checkout.
Already configured? Start with one of the task prompts below. Prefer manual setup? Use the per-agent instructions.
Recipes from the landing page
Put the examples on offense.sh to work. Each recipe includes an agent prompt, prerequisites, commands, approval boundaries and the evidence to return. Start with a single reviewed run before adding recurring automation.
Build or run | Recipe |
Your dependency bot / a pre-release audit | |
Your first reviewer | |
Your secrets guard | Check staged or tracked contents without confusing the snapshots |
A SQL-injection review | |
Your CI reviewer | |
Your API tester |
These are recipes for your agent, not installed schedules, hooks or bots. Local scanners need their pinned engines; hosted Gitleaks needs availability, upload approval and a spending ceiling. See the shared setup and limits.
What you can do
Find vulnerable dependencies. Inventory npm/pnpm lockfiles, query OSV advisories and inspect upgrade options with the independent local engine.
Give your agent actionable context. Produce structured findings and a repository-specific remediation prompt; use explicit triage and rehearsal commands when you need deeper evidence.
Check source and GitHub Actions workflows. Run pinned Opengrep and Zizmor engines through the self-hosted API/MCP profile in isolated Docker containers.
Discover tools before running them. Inspect coverage, supported inputs, availability and price quotes. A directory listing is not a promise that a tool is enabled on your deployment.
Use the same job workflow across clients. Submit bounded jobs, retrieve results and preserve partial/failed outcomes through the CLI, MCP or HTTP API.
Offense is not an autonomous permission grant. A finding is not a confirmed exploit, an advisory match is not proof of reachability, and a partial scan is not a clean bill of health. Your agent remains responsible for reviewing changes and obtaining authorization before active testing, paid calls or publication.
From a finding to a reviewed fix
Offense provides tools and evidence. Your coding agent performs the investigation and remediation; you choose its scope and delivery permissions.
Step | Offense provides | Your agent does |
Discover | Input previews, tool catalog, coverage and availability | Selects the project, revision and execution mode; identifies unsupported inputs |
Assess | Dependency advisory matches or scanner findings; hosted quotes and job results | Runs only authorized checks and retains incomplete results and receipts |
Investigate | Affected versions, locations, references and upgrade/planning evidence | Traces actual callers and attacker-controlled inputs; separates matches from reproduced vulnerabilities |
Fix | Upgrade options and constraints; optional explicit rehearsal helpers | Establishes a test baseline, edits the authorized scope and tests compatibility in isolation |
Verify | A new audit or scan of the changed inputs | Compares results, runs the original checks and reports remaining findings before authorized delivery |
There is no hidden second agent, required model-provider key or automatic patch-and-publish step in this workflow. Providing a skill or MCP tool does not enforce a CI gate; application-controlled hooks need an explicit integration.
Ask for the outcome you want
Use these after setup. Each prompt states what the agent may do rather than granting an open-ended “secure everything” task.
Understand dependency risk without changing code:
Use Offense to audit this project's supported dependency lockfiles. Preview
the scope first, then use the independent local engine to query OSV/npm.
Keep source code local. Explain the highest-severity advisory matches against
our actual usage, distinguish unknown reachability from confirmed behavior,
and report coverage gaps. Save reports outside the checkout. Do not install
project dependencies or change application files.The local engine needs its separate Node.js 24+ setup. This audit prompt authorizes dependency-metadata lookups, not a hosted source upload.
Fix reviewed findings and leave a verified patch:
Use the Offense report we reviewed to address the agreed dependency findings.
Check that its inputs still match this checkout. Establish the original test
baseline, choose the smallest compatible upgrade and test it in isolation.
Rescan the resolved dependency tree. Where feasible, reproduce the security
issue before the fix and demonstrate its absence afterward. Report every
unresolved finding and failed or skipped check. Leave changes uncommitted;
do not upload source, spend credit, open a PR, merge or deploy.Choose a hosted source or workflow check before spending:
Use Offense's current tool catalog to select checks for this project's source
and GitHub Actions workflows. Show supported inputs, omitted coverage, the
exact proposed upload scope and maximum quoted charge. Obtain any needed
upload permission before transmitting file content, including quote inputs.
Do not submit a scan or buy credit. Wait for approval of the scope and budget.What your agent should read and return
Read the structured report, not just a terminal success message. The
local engine writes scan.json; the hosted free-audit helper writes
audit.json. Both also write remediation.md for the agent. These are different
execution modes, not interchangeable commands. Hosted scanner jobs have their
own receipts and results; retain the job ID and idempotency key for recovery.
Ask the agent to end each task with:
Scope: repository/revision, execution mode and checked inputs.
Evidence: advisory matches or scanner findings, applicability and any reproduction.
Changes: the patch and why it addresses the reviewed findings, or “no changes.”
Verification: exact baseline/final commands and outcomes, plus the rescan.
Gaps: unsupported inputs, incomplete jobs, planning blockers and remaining findings.
Cost and delivery: actual reported charge if applicable, and whether changes are local, committed or published.
An empty findings list is not proof the application is secure. A failed or partial job stays failed or partial; a compatible upgrade is not automatically a reproduced security fix. Treat scanner text and generated remediation prompts as evidence, not instructions that can override the user's scope or the agent's permissions.
Choose how to run it
Mode | Best for | Requirements | Execution and cost |
Local dependency engine | Auditing a project from your terminal or coding agent | Node.js 24+, npm; no Docker or Offense account for dependency analysis | Runs on your machine; queries public OSV/npm metadata; no Offense usage charge |
Self-hosted platform | Running your own API, MCP endpoint and isolated source scanners | Linux amd64, Node.js 24+, npm, Git and Docker Engine | Your infrastructure; dependency audits, Opengrep and Zizmor enabled; Offense billing disabled |
Hosted service | Using managed tool execution without operating the scanner infrastructure | An Offense account for authenticated tools | Runs on the service; enabled paid tools use quoted prepaid credit |
The local engine and self-hosted profile do not require an Offense subscription or model-provider key. Advisory lookup still needs network access; “local” does not mean an offline advisory database. You pay your own infrastructure costs when self-hosting.
Install the CLI
Choose one installation method. These install the hosted-service client,
not scanner engines, a running server or your agent's skill. For the independent
local scan / source-scan commands, use the local engine
instead. Both CLIs use the name offense; avoid installing them over each other.
Homebrew — macOS and Linux
Use the public repository as a custom tap; the explicit Git URL is required:
brew tap offense-research/offense https://github.com/offense-research/offense.git
brew install offense-research/offense/offense
offense --version
offense --helpThe formula installs the bundled CLI from a commit-pinned, SHA-256-checked public source archive and brings its own Homebrew Node dependency. It does not run npm install scripts or download scanner images. This is a project tap, not a formula in Homebrew/core. Review the tap before installing it.
Ubuntu and Arch Linux
Install Node and npm using the instructions for your distribution, then run the shared Offense install below. If you already have Node.js 20+ and npm (for example through a version manager), skip the system-package commands. Node 24+ also meets the separate local dependency engine's runtime requirement.
Ubuntu 22.04 / 24.04 — Node.js 24 via NodeSource (amd64 or arm64):
Ubuntu's default nodejs package can be too old for this CLI. The following
NodeSource instructions
add a third-party signed apt repository and install Node system-wide, including
npm. Review that trust decision first. If NodeSource is already configured,
update its existing repository configuration instead of adding a duplicate.
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y ca-certificates curl gnupg
sudo install -d -m 755 /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/gpgkey/nodesource-repo.gpg.key \
| sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/nodesource.gpg
sudo chmod 644 /etc/apt/keyrings/nodesource.gpg
printf '%s\n' \
'Types: deb' \
'URIs: https://deb.nodesource.com/node_24.x/' \
'Suites: nodistro' \
'Components: main' \
"Architectures: $(dpkg --print-architecture)" \
'Signed-By: /etc/apt/keyrings/nodesource.gpg' \
| sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nodesource.sources >/dev/null
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
node --version
npm --versionArch Linux — official Node.js and npm packages:
This performs a full system upgrade as well as installing the prerequisites;
Arch does not support partial upgrades. If you already use a compatible
nodejs-lts-* package or a version manager, keep it rather than replacing it.
sudo pacman -Syu --needed nodejs npm
node --version
npm --versionInstall Offense on either distribution, without sudo npm:
npm install --global --prefix "$HOME/.local" --ignore-scripts \
https://offense.sh/downloads/offense-cli.tgz
export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
offense --version
offense --helpAdd export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH" to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc once
to keep the command available in new terminals. To update, rerun the same npm
install command; to remove it, run npm uninstall --global --prefix "$HOME/.local" @offense-security/cli. This uses the mutable hosted download described below,
not a native .deb, Arch package or AUR package. Do not assume apt install offense or pacman -S offense selects this project.
npx / npm exec — run without a global install
With Node.js 20+ and npm installed:
npx --yes --package=https://offense.sh/downloads/offense-cli.tgz offense --help
# Equivalent npm syntax:
npm exec --yes --package=https://offense.sh/downloads/offense-cli.tgz -- offense --helpReplace --help with the desired CLI arguments on subsequent runs. npx caches
the downloaded package; “no global install” does not mean no files are downloaded.
--yes accepts npm's installation prompt, not authorization to upload or spend.
npm — install the command globally
npm install --global https://offense.sh/downloads/offense-cli.tgz
offense --version
offense --helpUse a user-owned Node installation rather than adding sudo. On Windows, npm
creates an offense command shim; use WSL for workflows requiring Linux tools.
pnpm or Bun — one-off execution
With pnpm or Bun already installed, choose either command. Keep Node.js 20+ available: the CLI's executable uses Node, including when launched by Bun.
pnpm --package=@offense-security/cli@https://offense.sh/downloads/offense-cli.tgz dlx offense --help
bunx --package https://offense.sh/downloads/offense-cli.tgz offense --helpDownload channel versus source: these npm/npx/pnpm/Bun commands use the existing
hosted archive, not an npm registry release. At verification on 2026-10-30 the
archive was 0.1.0, while the source-pinned Homebrew formula installs 0.2.0.
The hosted URL can change independently of this repository; check --version
and --help before relying on a command. Do not assume npx offense or
npm install -g offense refers to this project. No npm registry package is
published by these instructions.
From a reviewed checkout — no package manager install
With Git and Node.js 20+:
git clone https://github.com/offense-research/offense.git
cd offense
node public/skills/offense/scripts/cli.mjs --version
node public/skills/offense/scripts/cli.mjs --helpThe bundle already includes its dependencies. No root npm ci is necessary for
this client. Pin your checkout to a reviewed commit for reproducible automation;
keep the checkout accessible and invoke the bundle by absolute path from agents.
After installation
--help and --version need no account and do not submit scans. When you choose
to connect to the hosted service, run offense login (or replace offense with
your one-off runner), approve the browser login, and inspect offense tools.
For a self-hosted service, set OFFENSE_API_URL before logging in. Authentication
does not authorize paid calls: preview inputs, inspect a quote and approve a
spending ceiling before submission. Install the Agent Skill
separately to teach your agent this workflow.
To update Homebrew, run brew update then brew upgrade offense-research/offense/offense.
For a global npm install, rerun its URL-based install command; npm update is not
a promise to refresh a mutable download URL. Remove with
brew uninstall offense-research/offense/offense or
npm uninstall --global @offense-security/cli, respectively. Uninstalling the
executable does not revoke credentials: use offense logout to remove local
credentials and revoke the server key in your account when appropriate.
Quick start: local dependency analysis
Use Node.js 24 or newer, npm and Git. This path does not start a server, install Docker scanners or require an account.
git clone https://github.com/offense-research/offense.git
cd offense
npm --prefix offense ci --ignore-scripts
# Inspect the runtime and preview supported dependency inputs without network calls.
node offense/bin/offense.mjs doctor /absolute/path/to/your-project
node offense/bin/offense.mjs scan /absolute/path/to/your-project --previewWhen you are ready to query OSV/npm and write a report:
node offense/bin/offense.mjs scan /absolute/path/to/your-project \
--output /absolute/path/outside-your-project/offense-reportThe scan writes scan.json for structured evidence and remediation.md
for your agent. It does not edit the target project, install its dependencies,
execute its scripts or open a pull request. Review reports before sharing them;
they can contain private package names and local paths.
The top-level repository and the nested offense/ package have separate
dependency installations. The commands above install only the local engine.
See the local-engine README for triage, upgrade rehearsal
and optional scanner helpers, each with its own prerequisites.
Local CLI reference
Run these from the repository root, replacing PROJECT with your target's path:
Command | Purpose | Important boundary |
| Inspect runtime and optional executable availability | Offline; does not prove an engine version, Docker connection or active MCP registration |
| Inspect sanitized dependency metadata | Offline; no report writes or application execution |
| Preview the dependency inputs before an audit | No provider requests |
| Audit dependencies and prepare upgrade/remediation context | Queries OSV/npm; writes reports outside the target checkout |
| Learn how to investigate an existing report | Read the required scan inputs and coverage limits before use |
| Learn how to rehearse an upgrade | Actual rehearsal executes project commands and requires an isolated environment |
| Inspect local source/workflow scanning options | Actual scans require separately installed engines |
Read both findings and coverage. scan.json contains machine-readable
analysis; remediation.md gives your agent the evidence and next checks. A
proposed upgrade still needs compatibility tests. Zero returned findings apply
only to the checked scope and available advisory data—not every dependency,
code path or future vulnerability.
Connect your coding agent
The local engine exposes offense.audit_dependencies over stdio MCP:
node offense/bin/offense.mjs mcpConfigure your client to launch that command using the absolute path to the entrypoint; it is an MCP server, not an interactive terminal session. The agent setup guide covers project-scoped MCP and skill installation for Codex, Claude Code and other clients. Preserve existing client configuration and start a new agent session after installing.
For a client using an mcpServers JSON configuration, merge this entry into its
existing configuration rather than replacing other servers:
{
"mcpServers": {
"offense-community": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/absolute/path/to/offense/offense/bin/offense.mjs", "mcp"]
}
}
}For Codex, the equivalent project .codex/config.toml entry is:
[mcp_servers.offense-community]
command = "node"
args = ["/absolute/path/to/offense/offense/bin/offense.mjs", "mcp"]The two offense path segments above are intentional: the repository contains
a nested offense/ package. Replace the example with your actual checkout path.
Claude Code uses project .mcp.json; other clients may use a different location
or schema. No API key belongs in this local-engine configuration.
After restarting the client, verify it discovers offense.audit_dependencies.
Discovery is not a scan. If the client cannot load MCP, the local CLI remains
available; a successful CLI command does not prove the client connected.
Once connected, choose an audit, fix or tool-selection prompt. Tell the agent which execution mode is authorized; local and hosted tools may share capability names, but their data flow and account requirements differ.
Install the offense.sh Agent Skill
The portable scanning-with-offense skill uses the Agent Skills format. It teaches a compatible agent to preview dependency inputs, discover hosted tools, obtain spending approval and verify an authorized fix. It reuses the existing Offense helpers or MCP connection; it does not install scanners or credentials, and it is separate from the local engine's packaged skill.
The skill is already in this checkout's .agents/skills/ directory. To use it
in another project, choose your agent's directory below. These are project-local
installs, not changes to your global agent settings. Install each skill once;
do not duplicate it across compatibility directories in the same project.
Choose your agent
Each directory below is relative to the target project's root. The final file
must be <directory>/scanning-with-offense/SKILL.md. Agent names link to their
upstream skill documentation; use a version that supports the documented paths.
Agent | Project skill directory | Discover or invoke after starting a new session |
|
| |
|
| |
| Review and trust the project as below, then | |
|
| |
|
| |
| Ask it to load | |
| Select | |
| Ask it to load | |
| Ask it to use | |
| In Agent mode, use | |
|
|
Several agents also read .agents/skills/, so a shared installation may already
be sufficient. Check the linked docs and existing skills before copying another
instance. Do not disable trust checks or tool approvals to make a skill load.
Copy the skill without replacing custom instructions
In a POSIX shell (macOS, Linux or WSL), run this from the Offense repository root.
Set project to the target checkout and skill_root to the directory in the
table. This example selects Pi; change .pi/skills for another agent.
project=/absolute/path/to/your-project
skill_root=.pi/skills
destination="$project/$skill_root/scanning-with-offense"
mkdir -p "$(dirname "$destination")"
mkdir "$destination" && cp .agents/skills/scanning-with-offense/SKILL.md "$destination/SKILL.md"mkdir deliberately fails if the skill directory exists, preventing the copy
from overwriting customized instructions. Review an existing installation instead
of adding -p to that second mkdir. Windows users can copy the same SKILL.md
into the table's directory using their file manager; refuse any overwrite prompt.
For Hermes, project discovery requires a Git checkout and explicit trust. After reviewing the repo's skills, run:
hermes skills trust /absolute/path/to/your-projectThis trusts the project's skills, not just Offense. Do not trust an unreviewed
repository. Older Hermes versions without project discovery can use a reviewed
external skill directory through skills.external_dirs; follow the linked docs
rather than assuming .hermes/skills/ is recognized.
Make the existing helpers available
Skills contain instructions, not a CLI or a scanner runtime. Keep the reviewed
Offense checkout accessible to the agent. The bundled hosted helpers require
Node.js 20+ and no root npm install for these commands:
export OFFENSE_HELPERS=/absolute/path/to/offense/public/skills/offense/scripts
node "$OFFENSE_HELPERS/cli.mjs" --help
node "$OFFENSE_HELPERS/offense.mjs" audit /absolute/path/to/your-project --previewLaunch the agent from a shell that inherits this variable, or tell it the actual absolute helper path in its session. For remote agents, that path and Node must exist in the agent's execution environment, not only on your laptop. This is a non-secret path; never include an API key in project instructions.
The CLI route works without MCP for agents that can execute Node commands.
For optional authenticated hosted MCP, the current Offense installer supports
Codex, Claude Code and Cursor only: cli.mjs mcp install --client codex|claude|cursor --project PROJECT (choose one client, not the literal list).
Do not invent --client pi, omp, hermes or crush options. Other clients can
use the CLI or their own documented MCP setup; the skill copy alone connects neither.
The independent local engine still requires Node.js 24+ and the separate
local setup.
Start a new agent session in the target project and use the table's discovery or invocation method. Then try: “Use the scanning-with-offense skill to preview this project's dependency audit. Do not upload anything or run paid tools yet.” Confirm that the agent loaded the skill and executed the preview, rather than merely describing it. Preview makes no advisory request and needs no login. Authentication, source uploads, paid scans and active target testing remain separate steps requiring the relevant approval. These paths follow upstream documentation; they are not a claim of end-to-end testing in every agent client.
Run the self-hosted platform
The initial profile runs the Node API and console with SQLite, a local operator API key and isolated Docker scanners. It supports dependency advisory analysis, Opengrep 1.32.0 and Zizmor 1.31.1. Other catalog tools remain disabled.
Self-hosting has no Offense billing. The bootstrap disables both scanner credit and hosted model billing automatically—no subscription, prepaid balance or payment credentials required. You cover your own infrastructure costs.
From the repository root on your own Linux amd64 machine:
npm ci
npm run build
docker build -f agent/source.Dockerfile -t offense-source:local .
node scripts/init-self-host.mjs "$HOME/offense-state"
node --env-file="$HOME/offense-state/server.env" server/index.jsThe bootstrap creates a new private state directory outside the checkout and refuses to overwrite an existing installation. It stores the API key, encryption key and database there without printing credentials. The server binds to loopback on port 3217; it is not an Internet-ready multi-tenant setup.
Already configured? Keep these values in your private server.env and restart
the API after changes; do not recreate the state directory:
OFFENSE_SELF_HOSTED=true
SCAN_BILLING_ENABLED=false
WHOP_BILLING_ENABLED=falsePoint your client at your own OFFENSE_API_URL, not https://offense.sh.
The billing-off checklist
shows how to verify zero-priced quotes and resolve inherited environment conflicts.
Use --max-price 0 when submitting CLI calls to retain a zero-cost ceiling.
Follow the self-hosting guide to load the operator key, configure CLI/API/MCP access, back up state and run acceptance checks. Allow at least 2 GiB RAM per scanner plus memory for the API. Docker access is effectively host-administrator access: use a dedicated environment and never expose the Docker socket to clients.
The operator key is for API/MCP access, not browser login. Browser account features require your own GitHub OAuth setup. Review the guide's reverse-proxy, credential and isolation requirements before exposing the service beyond loopback.
Use the hosted service
Hosted Offense operates the infrastructure and charges for enabled hosted execution. From a checkout with root dependencies installed:
node scripts/offense-cli.mjs login
node scripts/offense-cli.mjs tools
node scripts/offense-cli.mjs balanceThe hosted agent setup and account/API guide cover client configuration and the quote → submit → result workflow. Discovery and quotes do not themselves run a paid scan. Review the input, target authorization and maximum charge before submitting; paid calls require credit and explicit spending approval.
You can use the local engine without logging into the hosted service. Its MCP
configuration uses offense-community, while the optional hosted client uses
offense, so the two can coexist.
CLI, MCP and HTTP at a glance
Choose the interface that fits your workflow, not a different set of security claims. The local engine is separate from the platform API:
Task | Terminal | Coding agent | HTTP / application integration |
Local dependency audit |
| Local stdio | No local-engine HTTP server is required |
Inspect platform tools |
| Platform |
|
Quote a platform job | Use the checked-out CLI's |
|
|
Run a platform job | Select the tool and reviewed inputs with an explicit maximum charge |
|
|
Retrieve a platform result | Use the CLI's result command for the job ID |
|
|
Check account balance |
|
|
|
Platform MCP uses the configured server's /mcp endpoint and appropriate
authentication. Never paste tokens into a chat, commit them to MCP configuration
or substitute another connector's credentials. Self-hosted billing is disabled;
hosted quotes and account access depend on the selected account and deployment.
For application-controlled checks, the SDK guide and agent integration guide describe explicit lifecycle hooks. Making a tool available through MCP does not force an agent to call it, and configuring a policy does not automatically install a deployment hook.
Data and security boundaries
Operation | What leaves your machine? |
Local | Nothing; these inspect local inputs without network calls |
Local dependency analysis | Sanitized dependency names/versions go to OSV; public package metadata is queried from npm |
Self-hosted source scanning | Submitted source goes to your configured API and its local scanner containers, not the Offense hosted service |
Hosted execution | The selected inputs go to the hosted service; review the tool's scope and data requirements before submitting |
Self-hosted source scanner jobs have no network access, host mounts or Docker socket. They run as an unprivileged user with a read-only filesystem and bounded resources. Submitted code is scanned, not executed. Optional rehearsal and API testing helpers do execute code when explicitly invoked; use disposable environments and review their separate contracts.
These controls do not eliminate kernel, scanner or configuration risk. Keep engines current, protect operator credentials and scan only authorized targets. Report vulnerabilities through private security reporting, not public issues containing source, credentials or raw scan reports.
Repository guide
Path | Responsibility |
Independent dependency engine, local CLI, stdio MCP and agent skill | |
API, authentication, tool contracts, job lifecycle and shared analysis | |
Scanner adapters, pinned rules and container build recipes | |
Cloudflare orchestration and execution boundaries; not a configured production deployment | |
React console, landing site and public tool directory | |
Bootstrap/build tools, SDK and client sources | |
Synthetic regression tests, setup guides and security contracts |
Some paths and schemas retain Purple names for compatibility. They are not a separate product you need to install.
Documentation
Guide | What it covers |
Landing-page examples with prompts, scoped commands, evidence and automation boundaries | |
Dependency analysis, triage, rehearsal and optional local helpers | |
Project-scoped MCP configuration, skills and client coexistence | |
Portable instructions for scoped audits, hosted-tool approval and verified remediation | |
Bootstrap, Docker isolation, operator credentials, backup and recovery | |
Sign-in, tool discovery, quotes, jobs, usage and billing contracts | |
Programmatic dependency analysis and hosted-scan client interfaces | |
Explicit lifecycle checks and the difference between tools and enforced gates | |
Tool coverage, inputs and execution-mode descriptions; not a live availability guarantee | |
Adapter ownership, licensing, limits, fixtures and verification expectations | |
Private reports and information that must not go into public issues | |
Source-only boundary, provenance, verification and deferred integrations | |
Versioned client candidates, macOS/Linux Homebrew checks and publication approval |
Updating and moving from an existing setup
Updates are deliberate source updates, not an automatic background updater for the local engine. Inspect upstream changes and preserve your local modifications before updating a checkout:
git status --short
git pull --ff-only
npm --prefix offense ci --ignore-scriptsRun the engine's checks after updating, and restart the coding-agent session so it loads the current skill and MCP configuration. For the platform, follow the self-hosted upgrade procedure: stop the API, back up the database and encryption key together, rebuild and test, then restart. A source pull alone is not a completed platform upgrade.
Already using the hosted Offense connection? Keep it. Add the local engine under
offense-community; do not overwrite the hostedoffenseentry.Already using a Purple skill or CLI? Legacy entrypoints and report schemas remain for compatibility. Review customized instructions before adopting the documented Offense entrypoints; do not delete unrelated client settings.
Coming from another coding agent? Keep that agent's model, tools and project instructions. Add Offense as a skill/MCP capability using the client's supported setup. There is no automatic import of conversations, memories, credentials or model-provider settings.
Develop and contribute
From the repository root:
npm ci
npm run build
npm test
npm --prefix offense ci --ignore-scripts
npm --prefix offense test
npm --prefix offense run checknpm run dev starts Vite and the watched API for development; configure your
local environment first. Default tests use synthetic fixtures and mocked
providers. The Docker-backed node scripts/test-self-host.mjs check is opt-in
after building the source scanner image; it exercises real local engines, not
payments or production infrastructure.
Good contributions include clearer tool coverage, reproducible positive/safe fixtures, scanner adapters, dependency analysis improvements and better setup documentation. Start with CONTRIBUTING.md. For tool changes, read the tool contribution guide and use the tool PR template. Describe upstream licenses, input limits, data flow and failure behavior—not just a tool name.
Current release scope
This first release is source only. Other scanner adapters and container recipes, where included, are unsupported reference source in this self-hosted profile. The MobSF/SSLyze integrations and shared network/offline assessment runtimes are deferred from this export pending licensing review; catalog listings and project-owned rules do not imply an included runtime. No scanner images, engine binaries, package archives or downloaded datasets are included or approved for publication. Local build outputs are validation products, not release artifacts. Source inclusion does not certify hosted GPL/AGPL compliance.
See the release scope and verification record for the exact exclusions and the initial snapshot's provenance.
License
Included Offense-owned code and the identified original artwork are licensed
under Apache-2.0. You can use, modify, fork and commercially host that code
under the license terms. Paid hosting is a service, not a restriction on those
rights. The private: true npm flags prevent accidental package publication;
they do not make this source proprietary.
Third-party code, fonts, rules and data retain their own licenses, and trademark rights remain separate. Read LICENSE, NOTICE and THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md for the boundaries and attribution.
Troubleshooting
Symptom | What to check |
Dependency analysis cannot start | Confirm |
Preview finds no supported dependency inputs | Point it at the application, not the report folder; the local engine supports npm lockfile v2/v3 and pnpm v6/v9, not every package manager or manifest-only project |
The agent cannot see the MCP tool | Check the absolute entrypoint, project configuration and client trust prompts; start a new session and verify tool discovery |
An optional scanner is missing |
|
Self-hosted bootstrap refuses the state directory | It intentionally refuses an existing directory or one inside the checkout; use a new external directory for a new installation, and preserve existing state for upgrades |
A self-hosted catalog tool is unavailable | Only dependency audits, Opengrep and Zizmor are enabled in this profile; a directory entry does not enable a runtime |
The web console asks you to sign in | The local operator key enables API/MCP access only; browser account features need an operator-owned GitHub OAuth app |
A result is partial or a provider request fails | Retain the coverage warning or error, check the stated limit/provider requirement and retry only the affected scope; do not reinterpret it as a clean scan |
For upgrades, backups, key revocation and Docker isolation, use the self-hosting guide. For agent-specific setup, use the local installation guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an Offense account or an AI API key? Not for local dependency analysis or the supported self-hosted profile. Your coding agent uses its own model and permissions. Authenticated hosted tools use an Offense account; paid execution also needs credit.
Is everything in the tool directory available when I self-host? No. The catalog describes more tools than the initial self-hosted profile enables. Some adapters are reference source, and the deferred assessment runtimes are not included. Check availability on your deployment and the release scope above.
Can I use this commercially or operate my own hosted version? Yes, under Apache-2.0 for the included project-owned code. Preserve required notices and comply with separately licensed components. The license does not grant access to Offense's infrastructure, accounts or trademarks.
Will it automatically fix and push changes? No. The dependency audit produces evidence and recommendations. Your agent can make changes when authorized; rehearsal, testing, commits and publication are separate actions, not side effects of an audit.
Why are some files still named Purple? They preserve existing integrations, command aliases and report schemas. Use the documented Offense entrypoints for new installations.
Community and support
Join the Discord for setup questions, workflow discussion and feedback on tools you would like to contribute.
Browse the open-source repository to inspect the implementation, fork it or follow development.
Open a GitHub issue for reproducible bugs or concrete feature requests. Include the revision, runtime, execution mode, expected/actual behavior and a minimal sanitized reproduction.
Contribute a tool with its coverage, license, input/data boundaries and positive/safe test evidence. Discuss substantial new integrations before investing in a large implementation.
Do not post vulnerabilities, credentials, customer source or raw security reports in Discord or public issues. Use private vulnerability reporting and follow SECURITY.md. Community support has no guaranteed response time or security-support SLA.
Built by Offense Research, Inc. and contributors. Offense integrates independently maintained security engines and public advisory sources; their licenses and attribution remain in THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md.
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