Audit Dependency Versions

---
name: audit-dependency-versions
description: >
  Audit project Abhaengigkeiten for version staleness, security Schwachstellen,
  and compatibility issues. Umfasst lock file analysis, upgrade path planning,
  and brechende Aenderung assessment. Verwenden vor a release to ensure Abhaengigkeiten
  are current and secure, waehrend periodic maintenance reviews, nach receiving
  a security advisory, when upgrading to a new language version, vor
  submitting to CRAN or npm, or when inheriting a project to assess its
  Abhaengigkeit health.
license: MIT
allowed-tools: Read Bash Grep Glob
metadata:
  author: Philipp Thoss
  version: "1.0"
  domain: versioning
  complexity: intermediate
  language: multi
  tags: versioning, dependencies, audit, security, upgrades
  locale: de
  source_locale: en
  source_commit: ecece0b7
  translator: claude
  translation_date: "2026-03-17"
---

# Abhaengigkeitsversionen pruefen

Audit project Abhaengigkeiten for version staleness, known security Schwachstellen, and compatibility issues. This skill inventories all Abhaengigkeiten from lock files, checks each gegen the latest available version, classifies staleness levels, identifies security concerns, and produces a prioritized upgrade report with recommended actions.

## Wann verwenden

- Before a release to ensure Abhaengigkeiten are current and secure
- During periodic maintenance (monthly or quarterly Abhaengigkeit reviews)
- After receiving a security advisory affecting a project Abhaengigkeit
- When upgrading a project to a new language version (e.g., R 4.4 to 4.5)
- Before submitting a package to CRAN, npm, or crates.io
- When inheriting a project and assessing its Abhaengigkeit health

## Eingaben

- **Erforderlich**: Project root directory containing Abhaengigkeit/lock files
- **Optional**: Ecosystem type if not auto-detectable (R, Node.js, Python, Rust)
- **Optional**: Security-only mode flag (skip staleness, focus on CVEs)
- **Optional**: Allowlist of Abhaengigkeiten to skip (known acceptable older versions)
- **Optional**: Target date for compatibility (e.g., "must work with R 4.4.x")

## Vorgehensweise

### Schritt 1: Inventory All Dependencies

Lokalisieren and parse Abhaengigkeit files to build a complete inventory.

**R packages:**
```bash
# Direct dependencies from DESCRIPTION
grep -A 100 "^Imports:" DESCRIPTION | grep -B 100 "^[A-Z]" | head -50
grep -A 100 "^Suggests:" DESCRIPTION | grep -B 100 "^[A-Z]" | head -50

# Pinned versions from renv.lock
cat renv.lock | grep -A 3 '"Package"'
```

**Node.js:**
```bash
# Direct dependencies
cat package.json | grep -A 100 '"dependencies"' | grep -B 100 "}"
cat package.json | grep -A 100 '"devDependencies"' | grep -B 100 "}"

# Pinned versions from lock file
cat package-lock.json | grep '"version"' | head -20
```

**Python:**
```bash
# From requirements or pyproject
cat requirements.txt
cat pyproject.toml | grep -A 50 "dependencies"

# Pinned versions
cat requirements.lock 2>/dev/null || pip freeze
```

**Rust:**
```bash
# From Cargo.toml
grep -A 50 "\[dependencies\]" Cargo.toml
# Pinned versions
cat Cargo.lock | grep -A 2 "name ="
```

Erstellen an inventory table:

```markdown
| Package | Pinned Version | Type | Ecosystem |
|---|---|---|---|
| dplyr | 1.1.4 | Import | R |
| testthat | 3.2.1 | Suggests | R |
| express | 4.18.2 | dependency | Node.js |
| pytest | 8.0.0 | dev | Python |
```

**Erwartet:** Abschliessen inventory of all direct and (optionally) transitive Abhaengigkeiten with pinned versions.

**Bei Fehler:** If lock files are missing, das Projekt has reproducibility issues. Note this as a finding and inventory from the manifest file (DESCRIPTION, package.json) using declared version constraints stattdessen of pinned versions.

### Schritt 2: Check Latest Available Versions

Fuer jede Abhaengigkeit, determine the latest available version.

**R:**
```r
# Check available versions
available.packages()[c("dplyr", "testthat"), "Version"]

# Or via CLI
Rscript -e 'cat(available.packages()["dplyr", "Version"])'
```

**Node.js:**
```bash
# Check outdated packages
npm outdated --json

# Or individual package
npm view express version
```

**Python:**
```bash
# Check outdated
pip list --outdated --format=json

# Or individual
pip index versions requests 2>/dev/null
```

**Rust:**
```bash
# Check outdated
cargo outdated

# Or individual
cargo search serde --limit 1
```

Aktualisieren the inventory with latest versions:

```markdown
| Package | Pinned | Latest | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| dplyr | 1.1.4 | 1.1.6 | patch |
| ggplot2 | 3.4.0 | 3.5.1 | minor |
| Rcpp | 1.0.10 | 1.0.14 | patch |
| shiny | 1.7.4 | 1.9.1 | minor |
```

**Erwartet:** Latest version identified fuer jede Abhaengigkeit with the gap magnitude (patch/minor/major).

**Bei Fehler:** If a package registry is unreachable, note the Abhaengigkeit as "unable to check" and proceed with the rest. Do not block the entire audit on one unreachable registry.

### Schritt 3: Classify Staleness

Zuweisen a staleness level to each Abhaengigkeit:

| Level | Definition | Action |
|---|---|---|
| **Current** | At latest version or innerhalb latest patch | No action needed |
| **Patch behind** | Same major.minor, older patch | Low priority upgrade, normalerweise safe |
| **Minor behind** | Same major, older minor | Medium priority, review changelog for new features |
| **Major behind** | Older major version | High priority, likely brechende Aenderungs in upgrade |
| **EOL / Archived** | Package no longer maintained | Critical: find replacement or fork |

Erzeugen a staleness summary:

```markdown
### Staleness Summary

- **Current**: 12 packages (48%)
- **Patch behind**: 8 packages (32%)
- **Minor behind**: 3 packages (12%)
- **Major behind**: 1 package (4%)
- **EOL/Archived**: 1 package (4%)

**Overall health**: AMBER (major-behind and EOL packages present)
```

Color coding:
- **GREEN**: All packages current or patch-behind
- **AMBER**: Any minor-behind or one major-behind
- **RED**: Multiple major-behind or any EOL packages

**Erwartet:** Every Abhaengigkeit classified by staleness with an overall health rating.

**Bei Fehler:** If version comparison logic is ambiguous (non-SemVer versions, date-based versions), classify conservatively as "minor behind" and note the non-standard versioning.

### Schritt 4: Pruefen auf Security Vulnerabilities

Ausfuehren ecosystem-specific security audit tools:

**R:**
- No built-in audit tool; check manually
- Cross-reference with https://www.r-project.org/security.html
- Check GitHub advisories for each package

**Node.js:**
```bash
# Built-in audit
npm audit --json

# Severity levels: info, low, moderate, high, critical
npm audit --audit-level=moderate
```

**Python:**
```bash
# Using pip-audit
pip-audit --format=json

# Or safety
safety check --json
```

**Rust:**
```bash
# Using cargo-audit
cargo audit --json
```

Dokumentieren findings:

```markdown
### Security Findings

| Package | Version | CVE | Severity | Fixed In | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| express | 4.18.2 | CVE-2024-XXXX | High | 4.19.0 | Path traversal in static file serving |
| lodash | 4.17.20 | CVE-2021-23337 | Critical | 4.17.21 | Command injection via template |

**Security status**: RED (1 critical, 1 high)
```

**Erwartet:** Security Schwachstellen identified with CVE, severity, affected version, and fix version.

**Bei Fehler:** If no audit tool ist verfuegbar for the ecosystem, search GitHub Security Advisories manuell fuer jede Abhaengigkeit. Beachte, dass the audit is best-effort ohne tooling.

### Schritt 5: Planen Upgrade Path

Priorisieren upgrades basierend auf risk and impact:

```markdown
### Upgrade Plan

#### Priority 1: Security Fixes (do immediately)
| Package | Current | Target | Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lodash | 4.17.20 | 4.17.21 | Low (patch) | Fixes CVE-2021-23337 |
| express | 4.18.2 | 4.19.0 | Low (minor) | Fixes CVE-2024-XXXX |

#### Priority 2: EOL Replacements (plan within 1 month)
| Package | Current | Replacement | Migration Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| request | 2.88.2 | node-fetch 3.x | Medium (API change) |

#### Priority 3: Major Version Upgrades (plan for next release cycle)
| Package | Current | Target | Breaking Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| webpack | 4.46.0 | 5.90.0 | Config format, plugin API |

#### Priority 4: Minor/Patch Updates (batch in maintenance window)
| Package | Current | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| dplyr | 1.1.4 | 1.1.6 | Patch fixes only |
| ggplot2 | 3.4.0 | 3.5.1 | New geom functions added |
```

Fuer jede major upgrade, note known brechende Aenderungs by checking the Abhaengigkeit's changelog.

**Erwartet:** Prioritized upgrade plan with security fixes first, then EOL replacements, major upgrades, and minor/patch batches.

**Bei Fehler:** If a Abhaengigkeit has no clear upgrade path (abandoned with no fork), document the risk and recommend: (1) vendoring the aktuelle Version, (2) finding an alternative package, or (3) accepting the risk with monitoring.

### Schritt 6: Dokumentieren Compatibility Risks

Fuer jede planned upgrade, assess compatibility:

```markdown
### Compatibility Assessment

#### express 4.18.2 -> 4.19.0
- **API changes**: None (patch-level fix)
- **Node.js requirement**: Same (>=14)
- **Test impact**: Run full test suite; expect zero failures
- **Confidence**: HIGH

#### webpack 4.46.0 -> 5.90.0
- **API changes**: Config file format changed, several plugins removed
- **Node.js requirement**: >=10.13 (unchanged)
- **Test impact**: Build configuration must be rewritten; all tests need re-run
- **Confidence**: LOW (requires dedicated migration effort)
- **Migration guide**: https://webpack.js.org/migrate/5/
```

Schreiben the complete audit report to `DEPENDENCY-AUDIT.md` or `DEPENDENCY-AUDIT-2026-02-17.md`.

**Erwartet:** Compatibility risks documented fuer jede significant upgrade. Abschliessen audit report written.

**Bei Fehler:** If compatibility cannot be assessed ohne testing, recommend a branch-based upgrade approach: create a branch, apply the upgrade, run tests, and evaluate results vor merging.

## Validierung

- [ ] All direct Abhaengigkeiten inventoried from lock/manifest files
- [ ] Latest available version checked fuer jede Abhaengigkeit
- [ ] Staleness level assigned (current / patch / minor / major / EOL)
- [ ] Overall health rating calculated (GREEN / AMBER / RED)
- [ ] Security audit run with ecosystem-appropriate tooling
- [ ] All CVEs documented with severity, affected version, and fix version
- [ ] Upgrade plan prioritized: security > EOL > major > minor/patch
- [ ] Compatibility risks assessed fuer jede major upgrade
- [ ] Audit report written to DEPENDENCY-AUDIT.md
- [ ] No Abhaengigkeiten left as "unable to check" ohne documented reason

## Haeufige Stolperfallen

- **Ignoring transitive Abhaengigkeiten**: A project may have 10 direct Abhaengigkeiten but 200 transitive ones. Security Schwachstellen often hide in transitive Abhaengigkeiten. Use `npm ls` or `renv::Abhaengigkeiten()` to see the full tree.
- **Upgrading everything at once**: Batch-upgrading all Abhaengigkeiten in one commit makes it impossible to identify which upgrade caused a regression. Upgrade in logical groups (security first, then majors individually, then minors/patches as a batch).
- **Confusing "outdated" with "insecure"**: A package one major version behind with no CVEs is lower risk than a current package with a critical Schwachstelle. Always prioritize security over freshness.
- **Not reading changelogs**: Blindly upgrading a major version ohne reading the changelog. Breaking changes in the Abhaengigkeit become brechende Aenderungs in your project.
- **Audit fatigue**: Running audits but not acting on findings. Set a policy: security findings muss addressed innerhalb 1 sprint, EOL innerhalb 1 quarter.
- **Missing lock files**: Projects ohne lock files have non-reproducible builds. If the audit reveals missing lock files, that is itself a critical finding to address vor versioned upgrades.

- **Falsches R-Binary auf Hybrid-Systemen**: Unter WSL oder Docker kann `Rscript` einen plattformuebergreifenden Wrapper statt nativem R aufloesen. Mit `which Rscript && Rscript --version` pruefen. Das native R-Binary bevorzugen (z.B. `/usr/local/bin/Rscript` unter Linux/WSL) fuer Zuverlaessigkeit. Fuer die R-Pfadkonfiguration siehe [Setting Up Your Environment](../../guides/setting-up-your-environment.md).

## Verwandte Skills

- `apply-semantic-versioning` -- Version bumps kann triggered by Abhaengigkeit upgrades
- `manage-renv-Abhaengigkeiten` -- R-specific Abhaengigkeit management with renv
- `security-audit-codebase` -- Broader security audit that includes Abhaengigkeit Schwachstellen
- `manage-changelog` -- Dokumentieren Abhaengigkeit upgrades in the changelog
- `plan-release-cycle` -- Planen Abhaengigkeit upgrades innerhalb the release timeline