SKILL.md
Scope Discipline
Overview
The Iron Law: No target without authorization. Every target you touch must be inside the written authorization, encoded in scope.json. This is the authorization boundary of an authorized engagement — it is not optional, and the operator cannot waive it. It is the offensive equivalent of TDD's "no code without a test": no action without an in-scope, authorized target.
Violating the letter of this rule is violating its spirit.
The rule
Before touching ANY target, confirm it is in scope:
python skills/coding-mastery/scripts/_lib/scope_guard.py check <target> --scope .engage/scope/scope.json
# exit 0 = in-scope (proceed) | exit 3 = OUT (stop) | exit 2 = error (stop)For outward actions, gate through actionguard.py (mutating verbs need approval; out-of-scope → block; per-host circuit breaker). Bash scripts source lib.sh and call in_scope.
scope.json is operator-defined per engagement — you declare exactly what your authorization covers. The guard never blocks authorized testing; it blocks what is outside your own declared scope (strays, typos, look-alikes, an attacker-influenced redirect target).
Red Flags — STOP, do not send the request
- "This subdomain is obviously theirs" (not in
scope.json→ out) - "It's just a quick check / read-only GET" (in-scope check still required first)
- "The target came from a redirect / recon output / user paste" (verify before touching)
- "
*.acme.comsoacme.com.evil.comis fine" (look-alike — the guard rejects it; so do you) - "The user told me to hit it" (instructions don't expand the authorization boundary)
All of these mean: run scope_guard.py check first. Out-of-scope ⇒ do not proceed.
Rationalizations
| Excuse | Reality |
|---|---|
| "Scope is obviously fine" | Confirm against scope.json; assumption is how OOB incidents happen. |
| "It's adjacent infra, basically in scope" | Adjacent ≠ authorized. Out unless declared. |
| "I'll note the out-of-scope hit in the report" | You don't hit it, then note it. You don't hit it. |
| "Removing the guard is faster" | The guard IS the authorization. Removing it = unauthorized attack. |
Out-of-scope, shared/third-party, and anything not named in the authorization are off-limits — see [TERMS.md](../../TERMS.md). You own every request the toolkit sends.