prequel-dev · himayday · Aug 29, 2025 · Aug 29, 2025 · Aug 29, 2025 · Sep 3, 2025
diff --git a/rules/cre-2025-0165/autogpt-infinite-loop-memory-exhaustion.yaml b/rules/cre-2025-0165/autogpt-infinite-loop-memory-exhaustion.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+rules:
+  - metadata:
+      kind: prequel
+      id: H8X4fLdRn9sZ2aVkYoUqMt
+    cre:
+      id: CRE-2025-0165
+      severity: 0
+      title: "AutoGPT Infinite Loop Memory Exhaustion"
+      category: "runtime-problem"
+      author: Prequel
+
+      description: |
+        AutoGPT enters an infinite loop during task execution, repeatedly attempting the same 
+        actions without memory of previous attempts. This leads to exponential memory consumption,
+        API cost overruns, and eventual system crash or resource exhaustion. The agent becomes
+        stuck in a recursive pattern, unable to progress or terminate gracefully.
+      cause: |
+        The failure occurs when AutoGPT's short-term memory buffer becomes full or corrupted,
+        causing the agent to lose track of previously attempted actions. Without awareness of
+        past attempts, it repeatedly executes the same commands, each iteration consuming more
+        memory and API calls. The chain-of-thought process compounds the issue as each retry
+        adds to the context without resolution.
+      impact: |
+        Critical production impact including:
+        - Exponential API cost increase (can exceed $100+ in minutes)
+        - Memory exhaustion leading to OOM crashes
+        - Complete task failure with no recovery
+        - Resource starvation affecting other services
+        - Potential data corruption from repeated failed operations
+      impactScore: 9
+      mitigation: |
+        Immediate: Kill the AutoGPT process to stop resource consumption.
+        Short-term: Implement loop detection with max retry limits.
+        Long-term: Add memory management, checkpointing, and circuit breakers.
+        Configure cost limits and monitoring alerts for API usage.
+        Implement timeout mechanisms for individual task chains.
+      mitigationScore: 6
+      tags:
+        - autogpt
+        - memory-exhaustion
+        - infinite-loop
+        - api-cost-overrun
+        - autonomous-agent
+        - out-of-memory
+        - crash
+      references:
+        - "https://github.com/Significant-Gravitas/AutoGPT/issues/1543"
+        - "https://jina.ai/news/auto-gpt-unmasked-hype-hard-truths-production-pitfalls/"
+      applications:
+        - name: "AutoGPT"
+          version: ">= 0.3.0"
+
+    rule:
+      set:
+        event:
+          source: cre.log.autogpt
+        match:
+          - regex: "THOUGHTS:.*(?:attempting|trying|executing).*action|COMMAND.*execute_.*|(?:Failed|Error|Unable to).*(?:execute|complete|perform)|Memory usage:.*(?:[8-9][0-9]|100)%|AutoGPT entering infinite loop state|Loop detection:.*Same command attempted|Cost tracker:.*spent|Memory exhaustion imminent"
+            count: 1
diff --git a/rules/cre-2025-0165/test.log b/rules/cre-2025-0165/test.log
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+2025-08-29 10:15:32.123 [INFO] AutoGPT v0.3.1 starting...
+2025-08-29 10:15:32.456 [INFO] Loading agent configuration...
+2025-08-29 10:15:33.789 [INFO] Agent initialized with goal: "Create a comprehensive market analysis report"
+2025-08-29 10:15:34.012 [DEBUG] THOUGHTS: I need to gather market data, attempting to search for recent market trends and statistics for the analysis
+2025-08-29 10:15:34.234 [DEBUG] REASONING: Starting with web search to collect current market information
+2025-08-29 10:15:34.456 [DEBUG] PLAN: 1. Search for market data 2. Analyze trends 3. Generate report
+2025-08-29 10:15:34.678 [DEBUG] CRITICISM: Need to ensure data sources are reliable and current
+2025-08-29 10:15:34.890 [INFO] COMMAND: execute_web_search("latest technology market trends 2025")
+2025-08-29 10:15:36.123 [ERROR] Failed to execute web search: Connection timeout after 2000ms
+2025-08-29 10:15:36.345 [WARNING] Retrying command execution...
+2025-08-29 10:15:36.567 [DEBUG] THOUGHTS: The search failed, attempting to retry the same search action to gather the needed data
+2025-08-29 10:15:36.789 [DEBUG] REASONING: Network issue might be temporary, retrying the search
+2025-08-29 10:15:37.012 [INFO] COMMAND: execute_web_search("latest technology market trends 2025")
+2025-08-29 10:15:39.234 [ERROR] Error: Unable to complete web search - API rate limit exceeded
+2025-08-29 10:15:39.456 [WARNING] Command failed, agent attempting recovery...
+2025-08-29 10:15:39.678 [DEBUG] Memory buffer size: 45MB / 512MB
+2025-08-29 10:15:39.890 [DEBUG] THOUGHTS: Still need the market data, attempting to execute the search action again
+2025-08-29 10:15:40.123 [DEBUG] REASONING: The data is critical for the report, must obtain it
+2025-08-29 10:15:40.345 [INFO] COMMAND: execute_web_search("latest technology market trends 2025")
+2025-08-29 10:15:42.567 [ERROR] Failed to perform search operation: Maximum retries exceeded
+2025-08-29 10:15:42.789 [WARNING] Agent state: STUCK - Repeated action detected
+2025-08-29 10:15:43.012 [DEBUG] Memory buffer size: 128MB / 512MB
+2025-08-29 10:15:43.234 [DEBUG] THOUGHTS: I must get this data, attempting to search for the market information action
+2025-08-29 10:15:43.456 [INFO] COMMAND: execute_web_search("latest technology market trends 2025")
+2025-08-29 10:15:45.678 [ERROR] Unable to execute search: Resource temporarily unavailable
+2025-08-29 10:15:45.890 [CRITICAL] Memory usage: 89% - Approaching system limits
+2025-08-29 10:15:46.123 [WARNING] Cost tracker: $14.50 spent in last 15 seconds
+2025-08-29 10:15:46.345 [ERROR] Loop detection: Same command attempted 5 times
+2025-08-29 10:15:46.567 [CRITICAL] AutoGPT entering infinite loop state
+2025-08-29 10:15:46.789 [CRITICAL] Memory exhaustion imminent - 456MB / 512MB used
+2025-08-29 10:15:47.012 [ERROR] System resource alert: CPU 98%, Memory 91%
diff --git a/rules/tags/tags.yaml b/rules/tags/tags.yaml
@@ -845,6 +845,18 @@ tags:
   - name: cluster-scaling
     displayName: Cluster Scaling
     description: Problems related to Kubernetes cluster scaling operations and capacity management
+  - name: autogpt
+    displayName: AutoGPT
+    description: Problems related to AutoGPT autonomous agent framework including task execution, memory management, and API interactions
+  - name: infinite-loop
+    displayName: Infinite Loop
+    description: Problems where processes or agents get stuck in repetitive loops without termination conditions
+  - name: api-cost-overrun
+    displayName: API Cost Overrun
+    description: Problems where excessive API calls lead to unexpected cost increases or budget exhaustion
+  - name: autonomous-agent
+    displayName: Autonomous Agent
+    description: Problems related to autonomous AI agents including LLM-based systems that chain reasoning with actions
   - name: n8n
     displayName: N8N
     description: Problems related to n8n workflow automation platform
@@ -859,4 +871,4 @@ tags:
     description: Issues that have severe impact on production systems and require immediate attention
   - name: data-integrity
     displayName: Data Integrity
-    description: Problems that affect the completeness, accuracy, or consistency of data
+    description: Problems that affect the completeness, accuracy, or consistency of data