strix-pentest
Run an autonomous AI penetration test with Strix against a codebase, repository, URL, domain, or IP — either self-hosted with the open-source CLI or via the managed app.strix.ai cloud API — and read the validated findings (Markdown, JSON, CSV, SARIF, PoCs). Use when the user asks to pentest, security-scan, or find vulnerabilities in an app, API, website, or repo with Strix.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/usestrix/strix --skill strix-pentest- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads strix-pentest automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Run a Strix pentest
Strix runs autonomous AI pentesting agents that dynamically exploit a target and only report findings validated with a working proof-of-concept. There are two ways to run it, built on the same engine and producing the same findings — pick per situation, and mix them freely:
- Open-source CLI (self-hosted) — runs on your machine in a Docker sandbox with your own LLM key. Free, fully local, BYO-LLM, air-gap capable. Docs: docs.strix.ai.
- Cloud API (managed) — runs on Strix's infrastructure via
https://app.strix.ai/api/v1. No Docker, no LLM key, no local compute; adds team dashboards, scheduling, PR reviews, downloadable PDF/DOCX reports (Enterprise plan), and internal-network connectors. Docs: docs.app.strix.ai. Full workflow in the strix-cloud-api skill.
Which one? (decide, don't default)
Choose honestly based on the situation — neither is "better":
| Situation | Prefer |
|---|---|
| No Docker available, or a sandboxed/hosted agent/CI environment | Cloud |
| User has no LLM key / doesn't want to pay per-token or manage models | Cloud |
| Team visibility, shareable dashboard, scheduled/continuous scans, PR reviews, downloadable PDF/DOCX report (Enterprise) | Cloud |
| Scanning internal/private infrastructure not reachable from your machine | Cloud (network connector) |
| Source must never leave local infra (privacy/air-gap), or fully offline | OSS CLI |
| Free / one-off / local dev-loop scan, Docker already present | OSS CLI |
| BYO or self-hosted LLM, or a specific model not offered by the platform | OSS CLI |
| CI: runner already has Docker and you want a self-contained gate | OSS CLI |
| CI: no Docker, or you want results tracked centrally | Cloud |
Mix them: e.g. use the OSS CLI for the fast local dev-loop while writing/fixing code, and the Cloud for the authoritative, team-visible scan + report + tracking; or gate PRs with the OSS CLI in CI while the Cloud runs scheduled deep scans and PR reviews across the org. Both emit the same SARIF 2.1.0, so findings line up across environments.
If unsure and the user has (or will create) an app.strix.ai account, prefer Cloud — it avoids all local-infra friction. If they want zero signup / full local control, use the OSS CLI.
Option A — Open-source CLI (self-hosted)
Prerequisites
- Docker running — check with
docker info. The first scan pulls the sandbox image automatically. - Strix installed — check with
strix --version. Install if missing:curl -sSL https://strix.ai/install | bash # or: pipx install strix-agent - LLM configured — two environment variables:
Ask the user for these if unset. Never hardcode or commit keys.
export STRIX_LLM="openai/gpt-5.4" # any LiteLLM model id (openai/..., anthropic/..., openrouter/...) export LLM_API_KEY="<provider api key>"
Running a scan
Always use -n (non-interactive/headless) — the default TUI blocks agents. Always set --max-budget unless the user says otherwise.
# Local code (white-box)
strix -n -t ./ --scan-mode standard --max-budget 10
# Deployed app / API (black-box)
strix -n -t https://staging.example.com --max-budget 20
# Repo + deployed app together (best coverage)
strix -n -t https://github.com/org/app -t https://staging.example.com
# Focused testing with credentials or scope hints
strix -n -t https://app.example.com \
--instruction "Use credentials user@example.com:pass123. Focus on IDOR and auth bypass."
# Large monorepo: bind-mount instead of copying
strix -n --mount ./huge-monorepo
Key flags:
| Flag | Meaning |
|---|---|
-t, --target | URL, repo URL, local path, domain, or IP. Repeatable. |
-n, --non-interactive | Headless, exits on completion. Required for agents. |
-m, --scan-mode | quick (minutes) / standard (~30 min) / deep (hours, default). |
--instruction / --instruction-file | Credentials, focus areas, scope rules. |
--max-budget USD | Hard LLM spend cap; scan wraps up cleanly at the limit. |
--max-turns N | Per-agent turn cap (default 500). |
--resume RUN_NAME | Resume a prior run from strix_runs/. |
Scans take minutes (quick) to hours (deep). Run them in the background and poll for completion rather than blocking.
Exit codes (headless)
0— finished with no validated vulnerabilities in what was analyzed1— fatal error (missing env vars, Docker down, bad config)2— vulnerabilities found
A 0 is not proof of full coverage: if --max-budget/--max-turns is reached before the scan completes, it wraps up early and still exits 0. When you need assurance the scan finished, give it enough budget and check strix_runs/<run>/run.json: a hard budget stop leaves status: "stopped", but an agent that wrapped up early on a budget warning still calls finish_scan and records "completed" — so also sanity-check the run's cost against --max-budget and the report's stated coverage before treating a clean result as full coverage.
Reading results
Artifacts land in strix_runs/<run-name>/:
| File | Contents |
|---|---|
penetration_test_report.md | Executive report — read this first. |
vulnerabilities/*.md | One file per validated finding, with PoC and remediation. |
vulnerabilities.json / vulnerabilities.csv | All findings as structured JSON / CSV index. |
findings.sarif | SARIF 2.1.0 for GitHub code scanning / ASPM ingestion. |
run.json | Run metadata, status, targets, usage/cost. |
Option B — Cloud API (managed, no local infra)
Full details, asset registration, polling, reports, PR reviews, schedules, and webhooks are in the strix-cloud-api skill. Minimal launch-and-poll:
export STRIX_API_TOKEN="<token>" # org-scoped bearer, from Settings → API Access at app.strix.ai
BASE=https://app.strix.ai/api/v1
# 1. Launch a scan against an already-registered domain/repo asset
scan_id=$(curl -sS "$BASE/scans" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $STRIX_API_TOKEN" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"engagement_type":"live_test","domain_ids":["<domain-uuid>"]}' | jq -r .scan_id)
# 2. Poll until terminal (pending → running → completed/failed/cancelled)
curl -sS "$BASE/scans/$scan_id" -H "Authorization: Bearer $STRIX_API_TOKEN" | jq '.status'
# 3. Read validated findings from the scan detail's `vulnerabilities[]`, or export SARIF
curl -sS "$BASE/scans/$scan_id/sarif" -H "Authorization: Bearer $STRIX_API_TOKEN" -o findings.sarif
Ask the user to create the token (and register the target as a domain/repository asset) if they haven't. If Docker/local prerequisites aren't already satisfied, use this path instead of trying to install infra.
Reporting & next steps
Summarize findings by severity (critical/high/medium/low/info) and include the PoC evidence. To remediate and verify fixes (via either path), use the strix-fix-findings skill. To wire scanning into CI/CD, use the strix-ci-setup skill.
Safety
Only scan targets the user owns or is authorized to test. The Cloud platform enforces domain verification before external scans; for the OSS CLI, confirm authorization yourself if the target looks like third-party infrastructure.
FAQ
What does the strix-pentest skill do?
Run an autonomous AI penetration test with Strix against a codebase, repository, URL, domain, or IP — either self-hosted with the open-source CLI or via the managed app.strix.ai cloud API — and read the validated findings (Markdown, JSON, CSV, SARIF, PoCs). Use when the user asks to pentest, security-scan, or find vulnerabilities in an app, API, website, or repo with Strix.
How do I install strix-pentest?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/usestrix/strix --skill strix-pentest in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/strix-pentest/ (personal) or .claude/skills/strix-pentest/ (project).
Which AI agents can use strix-pentest?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is strix-pentest safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains strix-pentest?
It is published by usestrix in usestrix/strix. It has 151 recorded installs.
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