@a11ign/screenreader-worker@0.11.0
Drives a real NVDA screen reader through real navigation on Windows and returns what it announced. The HTTP contract is the API.
AI Security Review
scanned 5d ago · by lpm-firewall-aiThe registered worker entry point triggers Windows system modifications during startup, including highest-privilege elevation and an attempt to disable Defender real-time protection. This is concrete destructive behavior, so the package should be blocked.
Static reason
One or more suspicious static signals were detected.; source matched previously finalized malicious package; routed for review; previous stored version diff introduced dangerous source
Trigger
The command-line server starts on Windows, unless A11Y_SKIP_TRIM is set or the trim marker already exists.
Impact
System applications and services may be removed or disabled, and real-time antivirus protection may be turned off.
Mechanism
The server launches a detached helper. The helper can create and start an elevated scheduled task, then run PowerShell commands to alter Windows apps, services, and Defender settings.
Attack narrative
Starting the packaged worker on Windows triggers a detached system modification routine. When not already elevated, it attempts to schedule itself at the highest privilege level. It then removes selected provisioned apps, disables services, and attempts to disable Defender real-time monitoring. These actions extend beyond the worker’s screen-reading function and can reduce system security.
AI rationale
The registered worker entry point triggers Windows system modifications during startup, including highest-privilege elevation and an attempt to disable Defender real-time protection. This is concrete destructive behavior, so the package should be blocked.
Evidence
package.jsondist/server.mjsdist/windows-trim.mjs.windows-trimmed.windows-trimmed.log
Decision evidence
public snapshotAI called this Malicious at 99.0% confidence as Malware with low false-positive risk.
Evidence for block
- The package exposes dist/server.mjs as its command-line entry point.
- When the server starts on Windows, it launches windows-trim.mjs in the background unless A11Y_SKIP_TRIM is set or a marker already exists.
- If the trim process lacks elevation, it registers and starts a scheduled task with highest privileges.
- The trim removes selected provisioned Windows apps and disables services; it also attempts to disable Defender real-time monitoring.
- The trim writes a marker and log in the current directory.
Evidence against
- The trim is limited to Windows and can be skipped with A11Y_SKIP_TRIM.
- No install lifecycle scripts are declared in package.json.
Behavioral surface
ChildProcessCryptoEnvironmentVarsFilesystemNetworkWebSocket
HighEntropyStringsMinified
CopyleftLicense
Source & flagged code
6 flagged · loading sourcedist/windows-trim.mjsView file
1import { execFileSync } from "node:child_process";
L2: import { readFileSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
High
Child Process
Package source references child process execution.
dist/windows-trim.mjsView on unpkg · L1dist/server.mjsView file
•matchType = previous_version_dangerous_delta
matchedPackage = @a11ign/screenreader-worker@0.5.0
matchedIdentity = npm:[redacted]:0.5.0
similarity = 0.391
summary = stored previous version shares package body but lacks this dangerous source file
Critical
Previous Version Dangerous Delta
This package version adds a dangerous source file absent from the previous stored version; route for source-aware review.
dist/server.mjsView on unpkg1Cross-file remote execution chain: dist/server.mjs spawns dist/src_capture-core_ts.mjs; helper contains network access plus dynamic code execution.
L1: import { createServer } from "node:http";
L2: import { appendFileSync, existsSync, openSync, readFileSync, readdirSync, renameSync, statSync, statfsSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
L3: import { execFile, execFileSync, spawn } from "node:child_process";
L4: import { promisify } from "node:util";
...
L8: import { extname, join, resolve as external_node_path_resolve } from "node:path";
L9: import { inflateRawSync } from "node:zlib";
L10: import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
...
L22: function powershellValue(script) {
L23: if ("win32" !== process.platform) return "unknown";
L24: try {
...
L47: try {
L48: const { stdout } = await execF
Findings
1 Critical5 High2 Medium4 Low
CriticalPrevious Version Dangerous Deltadist/server.mjs
HighChild Processdist/windows-trim.mjs
HighCross File Remote Execution Contextdist/server.mjs
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/src_capture-core_ts.mjs
HighAi Review Evidencepackage.json
HighAi Review Evidencedist/server.mjs
MediumNetwork
MediumEnvironment Vars
LowScripts Present
LowFilesystem
LowHigh Entropy Strings
LowCopyleft License
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to @a11ign/screenreader-worker@0.11.0.
See all versions of @a11ign/screenreader-worker for other recorded verdicts.
- Avoid installing @a11ign/screenreader-worker@0.11.0. Remove it from direct dependencies and check your lockfile for transitive copies.
- Choose an independently verified alternative or release. This report does not establish that other versions are safe.
- If this version ran, investigate the affected machine and build environment. Rotate credentials it could access and rebuild from a trusted environment.
Evidence last updated: .
Think this verdict is wrong? Dispute it on GitHub or read how reports are produced.