@a11ign/screenreader-worker@0.13.9
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-aiThe automatic startup chain makes privileged, system-wide changes and attempts to disable antivirus 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
Start the package server on Windows when the trim marker is absent.
Impact
This can weaken system security and remove system components without a separate confirmation in the startup path.
Mechanism
The server detaches a helper; it can elevate through a scheduled task and performs system-wide changes, including disabling Defender monitoring.
Attack narrative
On Windows server startup, the package launches a detached trimming helper unless A11Y_SKIP_TRIM is set or a marker already exists. The helper can request elevated execution, remove selected provisioned applications, disable listed services, and attempt to disable Defender real-time protection. These changes may weaken security or disrupt system functionality without a separate confirmation in the startup path.
AI rationale
The automatic startup chain makes privileged, system-wide changes and attempts to disable antivirus 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.windows-trimmed.json
Decision evidence
public snapshotAI called this Malicious at 98.0% confidence as Malware with low false-positive risk.
Evidence for block
- The package exposes the server as its command-line entry point.
- Starting the server on Windows automatically launches a detached trimming helper unless an environment flag skips it.
- The helper elevates through a scheduled task when needed, then removes provisioned apps and disables services.
- The helper attempts to disable Windows Defender real-time protection.
Evidence against
- The behavior runs only on Windows, is skipped when the trim marker already exists, and has an environment opt-out.
- The package describes an NVDA worker, but its normal startup does not request consent before making these system changes.
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@0.13.9.
See all versions of @a11ign/screenreader-worker for other recorded verdicts.
- Avoid installing @a11ign/screenreader-worker@0.13.9. 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.