@a11ign/screenreader-worker@0.12.0
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 4d ago · by lpm-firewall-aiThe package's normal Windows server startup automatically initiates broad system changes, including disabling Defender real-time protection and Windows Update. 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
Run the package's `a11ign-nvda-worker` command on Windows when the trim marker is absent and `A11Y_SKIP_TRIM` is not `1`.
Impact
The host can lose security protection, Windows Update, and other services, while selected apps are removed.
Mechanism
The server detaches a helper process; the helper uses PowerShell to remove packages, disable services, and change Defender settings, escalating through a scheduled task when needed.
Attack narrative
Launching the worker on Windows starts a background helper that can elevate through a scheduled task. It removes selected provisioned apps, disables services including Windows Update, and attempts to disable Defender real-time protection. The behavior is automatic at server startup, with only an environment opt-out and marker check.
AI rationale
The package's normal Windows server startup automatically initiates broad system changes, including disabling Defender real-time protection and Windows Update. This is concrete destructive behavior, so the package should be blocked.
Evidence
package.jsondist/server.mjsdist/windows-trim.mjs
Decision evidence
public snapshotAI called this Malicious at 98.0% confidence as Malware with low false-positive risk.
Evidence for block
- The package exposes `dist/server.mjs` as its command-line entry point.
- Starting the worker on Windows launches a background trim helper unless the environment opt-out is set or a marker exists.
- The helper removes selected provisioned apps and disables Windows services, including Windows Update.
- The helper also attempts to disable Defender real-time protection.
Evidence against
- The trim helper is Windows-only and supports the `A11Y_SKIP_TRIM=1` opt-out.
- No network endpoint is involved in the inspected destructive behavior.
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@0.12.0.
See all versions of @a11ign/screenreader-worker for other recorded verdicts.
- Avoid installing @a11ign/screenreader-worker@0.12.0. 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.