@a11ign/screenreader-worker@0.13.10
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 6d ago · by lpm-firewall-aiSource inspection confirms default-on, elevated Windows changes that remove apps, disable services, and weaken Defender 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; source fingerprint signature matched known malicious package; routed for review
Trigger
Starting the worker on Windows, unless A11Y_SKIP_TRIM=1 is set.
Impact
These changes can remove system features, disrupt updates and services, and reduce protection against malware.
Mechanism
The helper can schedule itself to run at the highest level, remove provisioned apps, disable and stop services, and turn off Defender real-time protection.
Attack narrative
The package exposes a server command that automatically launches the Windows trim helper at startup. The helper can elevate through a scheduled task, remove provisioned apps, disable and stop services, and disable Defender real-time protection. These broad system changes are enabled by default on Windows; the environment variable provides an opt-out.
AI rationale
Source inspection confirms default-on, elevated Windows changes that remove apps, disable services, and weaken Defender protection. This is concrete destructive behavior, so the package should be blocked.
Evidence
package.jsondist/server.mjsdist/windows-trim.mjs.windows-trimmed.windows-trimmed.json
Decision evidence
public snapshotAI called this Malicious at 98.0% confidence as Malware with low false-positive risk.
Evidence for block
- package.json exposes dist/server.mjs as the a11ign-nvda-worker command.
- Starting the server on Windows launches the trim helper automatically; A11Y_SKIP_TRIM=1 is an opt-out.
- When elevation is needed, the helper starts a scheduled task at the highest run level.
- The helper removes provisioned Windows apps and disables and stops selected services.
- The helper also attempts to disable Windows Defender real-time protection.
Evidence against
Behavioral surface
ChildProcessCryptoEnvironmentVarsFilesystemNetworkWebSocket
HighEntropyStringsMinified
CopyleftLicense
Source & flagged code
7 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
1Cross-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, realpathSync, 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 }
High
Cross File Remote Execution Context
Source spawns a local helper that also contains network and dynamic execution context; review data flow before blocking.
dist/server.mjsFindings
6 High4 Medium4 Low
HighChild Processdist/windows-trim.mjs
HighCross File Remote Execution Contextdist/server.mjs
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/server.mjs
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/src_capture-core_ts.mjs
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/src_auth-flow_ts.mjs
HighKnown Malware Source Fingerprint Signaturedist/server.mjs
MediumNetwork
MediumEnvironment Vars
MediumShips Build Helperlauncher/apply-foreground-lock-timeout.ps1
MediumStructural Risk Force Deep Review
LowScripts Present
LowFilesystem
LowHigh Entropy Strings
Low
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to @a11ign/screenreader-worker@0.13.10.
See all versions of @a11ign/screenreader-worker for other recorded verdicts.
- Avoid installing @a11ign/screenreader-worker@0.13.10. 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.