registry / AI-agent control-surface risk / @ch4acko3/frontal-lobe
@ch4acko3/frontal-lobe
Frontal Lobe CLI, Gateway, Codex and Claude Code adapters, skills, and debug UI.
This report shows the evidence for @ch4acko3/frontal-lobe@0.1.12. 6 of 7 known versions are blocked or flagged. The newest version, 0.1.14, is blocked. See all versions.
AI Security Review
scanned 3mo ago · by lpm-firewall-aiThis meets the blocking policy because npm postinstall automatically mutates a foreign/broad AI-agent control surface. The package’s deferred hook-trust behavior reduces scope but does not undo the unconsented marketplace and plugin-source writes.
Static reason
High-risk behavior combination matched malicious policy.; source matched previously finalized malicious package; routed for review
Trigger
npm postinstall in a noninteractive environment with Codex available
Impact
Unconsented persistence in a foreign AI-agent control surface; later plugin activation can run bundled hooks during Codex sessions.
Mechanism
automatic Codex plugin staging and marketplace mutation
Policy narrative
The package's postinstall selects all client adapters when it cannot prompt, then invokes its Codex plugin installer. That installer copies bundled plugin and hook code into the user's Codex home and updates `$HOME/.agents/plugins/marketplace.json`. This is an unconsented install-time mutation of a broad AI-agent plugin control surface; hook activation is deferred, but the registration and staged payload persist.
AI rationale
This meets the blocking policy because npm postinstall automatically mutates a foreign/broad AI-agent control surface. The package’s deferred hook-trust behavior reduces scope but does not undo the unconsented marketplace and plugin-source writes.
Evidence
package.jsonbin/frontal-codex-plugin-postinstall.mjslib/frontal-gateway/dist/codex-plugin-install.jslib/frontal-codex-adapter/.codex-plugin/plugin.jsonlib/frontal-codex-adapter/hooks/hooks.json$CODEX_HOME/.frontal-lobe/plugins/frontal-codex-adapter$HOME/.agents/plugins/marketplace.json
Decision evidence
public snapshotAI identified this as a dangerous AI-agent capability at 98.0% confidence with low false-positive risk.
Evidence for policy risk
- `package.json` runs `postinstall`.
- Noninteractive postinstall selects all clients in `bin/frontal-codex-plugin-postinstall.mjs`.
- Postinstall invokes `frontal codex-plugin install --json`.
- `codex-plugin-install.js` stages code under `$CODEX_HOME/.frontal-lobe/plugins/frontal-codex-adapter`.
- Installer rewrites `$HOME/.agents/plugins/marketplace.json`.
- Bundled plugin declares Codex command hooks in `hooks/hooks.json`.
Evidence against
- Postinstall does not auto-activate or trust hooks when it cannot prompt.
- No `eval`, `Function`, or remote payload loader was confirmed.
- Remote Memorax requests require separately configured credentials.
Behavioral surface
ChildProcessCryptoDynamicRequireEnvironmentVarsFilesystemNetworkShell
HighEntropyStringsMinifiedUrlStrings
Source & flagged code
14 flagged · loading sourcepackage.jsonView file
•scripts.postinstall = node ./bin/frontal-codex-plugin-postinstall.mjs
High
Install Time Lifecycle Scripts
Package defines install-time lifecycle scripts.
package.jsonView on unpkgbin/frontal.mjsView file
1#!/usr/bin/env node
L2: import { spawn } from "node:child_process";
L3: import { existsSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
High
lib/frontal-gateway/dist/memory-viewer-session-names.jsView file
5import { [redacted], } from "./memory-viewer-session-title.js";
L6: const require = createRequire(import.meta.url);
L7: export function memoryViewerSessionNames(sessionIds, frontalHome, env = process.env, titleCandidates = []) {
Medium
Dynamic Require
Package source references dynamic require/import behavior.
lib/frontal-gateway/dist/memory-viewer-session-names.jsView on unpkg · L5lib/frontal-gateway/dist/ui-observer-store.jsView file
1import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
L2: import { mkdirSync, readdirSync, renameSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
Low
Weak Crypto
Package source references weak cryptographic algorithms.
lib/frontal-gateway/dist/ui-observer-store.jsView on unpkg · L1lib/frontal-codex-adapter/src/macos-loopback-proxy-bypass.mjsView file
1import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
L2: import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
...
L22: const SCUTIL = "/usr/sbin/scutil";
L23: const LAUNCHCTL = "/bin/launchctl";
L24: const HELPER_FILENAME = "ensure-loopback-proxy-bypass.sh";
...
L34: export async function ensureMacosLoopbackProxyBypass(options = {}) {
L35: if ((options.platform ?? process.platform) !== "darwin") return skipped("platform_not_supported");
L36: if (options.codexSelected === false) return skipped("codex_not_selected");
...
L43: if (!proxyCommand.ok) return proxyStatusUnknown();
L44: const proxyState = parseMacosProxyState(proxyCommand.stdout);
L45: if (!proxyState.ok) return proxyStatusUnknown();
...
L246: export function macosLoopbackProxyBypassPaths(options = {}) {
Medium
Install Persistence
Source writes installer persistence such as shell profile or service configuration.
lib/frontal-codex-adapter/src/macos-loopback-proxy-bypass.mjsView on unpkg · L1lib/frontal-codex-adapter/hooks/ensure-backend.mjsView file
1#!/usr/bin/env node
L2: import { spawn } from "node:child_process";
L3: import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
...
L8:
L9: const DEBUG = process.env.FRONTAL_CODEX_HOOK_DEBUG === "1";
L10:
...
L13: const input = await readStdinJson();
L14: const gatewayUrl = normalizeUrl(process.env.FRONTAL_GATEWAY_URL || "http://127.0.0.1:8787");
L15: const timeoutMs = parsePositiveInt(process.env.FRONTAL_CODEX_ENSURE_TIMEOUT_MS, 1500);
High
Same File Env Network Execution
A single source file combines environment access, network access, and code or shell execution; review context before blocking.
lib/frontal-codex-adapter/hooks/ensure-backend.mjsView on unpkg · L1bin/frontal-codex-plugin-postinstall.mjsView file
1Install-time AI-agent control hijack evidence:
L2: import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
L3: import { existsSync, mkdirSync, readFileSync, readdirSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
L4: import { homedir } from "node:os";
...
L136: sk[redacted],
L137: claudeAdapterRequired: !sk[redacted] && !preflight.claudeOfficialLogin,
L138: claudeSkipReason,
...
L665: const clients = parse(readFileSync(path, "utf8"))?.clients;
L666: if (!clients || typeof clients !== "object" || typeof clients.codex !== "boolean" || typeof clients.claude !== "boolean") return undefined;
L667: return [clients.codex ? "codex" : undefined, clients.claude ? "claude" : undefined].filter(Boolean);
L668: } catch {
...
L779: const path = frontalConfigPath();
L780: mkdirSync(dirname(path), { recursive: true });
Paylo
Critical
Ai Agent Control Hijack
Install-time source drops package-supplied AI-agent/MCP control files or instructions.
bin/frontal-codex-plugin-postinstall.mjsView on unpkg · L1bin/frontal-core-nativeView file
•path = bin/frontal-core-native
kind = native_binary
sizeBytes = 7354640
magicHex = [redacted]
Medium
lib/frontal-codex-adapter/skills/frontal-memory/scripts/collect_all.pyView file
•path = lib/frontal-codex-adapter/skills/frontal-memory/scripts/collect_all.py
kind = build_helper
sizeBytes = 19163
magicHex = [redacted]
Medium
Ships Build Helper
Package ships non-JavaScript build or shell helper files.
lib/frontal-codex-adapter/skills/frontal-memory/scripts/collect_all.pyView on unpkglib/frontal-gateway/dist/child-action-worker.jsView file
•matchType = normalized_sha256
matchedPackage = @ch4acko3/frontal-lobe@0.1.10
matchedPath = lib/frontal-gateway/dist/child-action-worker.js
matchedIdentity = npm:QGNoNGFja28zL2Zyb250YWwtbG9iZQ:0.1.10
similarity = 1.000
summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source
High
Known Malware Source Similarity
Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.
lib/frontal-gateway/dist/child-action-worker.jsView on unpkglib/frontal-gateway/dist/codex-smoke.jsView file
•matchType = normalized_sha256
matchedPackage = @ch4acko3/frontal-lobe@0.1.10
matchedPath = lib/frontal-gateway/dist/codex-smoke.js
matchedIdentity = npm:QGNoNGFja28zL2Zyb250YWwtbG9iZQ:0.1.10
similarity = 1.000
summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source
High
Known Malware Source Similarity
Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.
lib/frontal-gateway/dist/codex-smoke.jsView on unpkglib/frontal-gateway/dist/repository-memory-scope.jsView file
•matchType = normalized_sha256
matchedPackage = @ch4acko3/frontal-lobe@0.1.10
matchedPath = lib/frontal-gateway/dist/repository-memory-scope.js
matchedIdentity = npm:QGNoNGFja28zL2Zyb250YWwtbG9iZQ:0.1.10
similarity = 1.000
summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source
High
Known Malware Source Similarity
Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.
lib/frontal-gateway/dist/repository-memory-scope.jsView on unpkglib/frontal-gateway/dist/runtime-client.jsView file
•matchType = normalized_sha256
matchedPackage = @ch4acko3/frontal-lobe@0.1.10
matchedPath = lib/frontal-gateway/dist/runtime-client.js
matchedIdentity = npm:QGNoNGFja28zL2Zyb250YWwtbG9iZQ:0.1.10
similarity = 1.000
summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source
High
Known Malware Source Similarity
Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.
lib/frontal-gateway/dist/runtime-client.jsView on unpkglib/frontal-codex-adapter/src/cli.mjsView file
•matchType = normalized_sha256
matchedPackage = @ch4acko3/frontal-lobe@0.1.10
matchedPath = lib/frontal-codex-adapter/src/cli.mjs
matchedIdentity = npm:QGNoNGFja28zL2Zyb250YWwtbG9iZQ:0.1.10
similarity = 1.000
summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source
High
Known Malware Source Similarity
Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.
lib/frontal-codex-adapter/src/cli.mjsView on unpkgFindings
1 Critical9 High7 Medium5 Low
CriticalAi Agent Control Hijackbin/frontal-codex-plugin-postinstall.mjs
HighInstall Time Lifecycle Scriptspackage.json
HighChild Processbin/frontal.mjs
HighShell
HighSame File Env Network Executionlib/frontal-codex-adapter/hooks/ensure-backend.mjs
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritylib/frontal-gateway/dist/child-action-worker.js
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritylib/frontal-gateway/dist/codex-smoke.js
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritylib/frontal-gateway/dist/repository-memory-scope.js
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritylib/frontal-gateway/dist/runtime-client.js
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritylib/frontal-codex-adapter/src/cli.mjs
MediumDynamic Requirelib/frontal-gateway/dist/memory-viewer-session-names.js
MediumNetwork
MediumEnvironment Vars
MediumInstall Persistencelib/frontal-codex-adapter/src/macos-loopback-proxy-bypass.mjs
MediumShips Native Binarybin/frontal-core-native
MediumShips Build Helperlib/frontal-codex-adapter/skills/frontal-memory/scripts/collect_all.py
MediumStructural Risk Force Deep Review
LowScripts Present
LowWeak Cryptolib/frontal-gateway/dist/ui-observer-store.js
LowFilesystem
LowHigh Entropy Strings
LowUrl Strings
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to @ch4acko3/frontal-lobe@0.1.12.
The versions list below shows the verdict for each recorded version.
- Avoid installing @ch4acko3/frontal-lobe@0.1.12. 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: .
Source advisory published: .
Think this verdict is wrong? Dispute it on GitHub or read how reports are produced.
Versions
7 known versions0.1.14latestMaliciousMalwareBlockPublishedJul 22, 2026, 2:27 AM0.1.12shownMaliciousSoft block: AI-agent control surfaceBlockPublishedJul 18, 2026, 5:29 AM0.1.12-preview.2MaliciousMalwareBlockPublishedJul 18, 2026, 5:05 AM0.1.10MaliciousData ExfiltrationBlockPublishedJul 14, 2026, 9:59 AM0.1.9MaliciousSoft block: AI-agent control surfaceBlockPublishedJul 11, 2026, 1:09 PM0.1.7MaliciousSoft block: AI-agent control surfaceBlockPublishedJul 8, 2026, 11:23 AM0.1.4SuspiciousAgent extension lifecycle riskWarnPublishedJul 8, 2026, 7:41 AM