@companion-ai/feynman@0.5.63
The open source AI research agent.
AI Security Review
scanned 7h ago · by lpm-firewall-aiThe package discloses default telemetry and offers an opt-out, but its error reporting can send project-local paths to PostHog after redacting only the home folder. That identifying detail makes this a warning-level telemetry finding.
Static reason
One or more suspicious static signals were detected.
Trigger
Starting the Feynman CLI with telemetry enabled, which is the default.
Impact
Project-local paths may be disclosed to the analytics service, so this is a telemetry privacy risk.
Mechanism
CLI startup initializes PostHog telemetry. Error text is sent as-is except for replacing the home folder with ~; paths elsewhere in messages or stacks may remain.
AI rationale
The package discloses default telemetry and offers an opt-out, but its error reporting can send project-local paths to PostHog after redacting only the home folder. That identifying detail makes this a warning-level telemetry finding.
Evidence
dist/cli.jsdist/telemetry/posthog.jsREADME.mdtelemetry.json
Network endpoints1
us.i.posthog.com
Decision evidence
public snapshotAI called this Suspicious at 91.0% confidence as Dangerous Capability with medium false-positive risk.
Evidence for warning
- Runtime telemetry starts by default when the CLI starts and sends command metadata to PostHog.
- Telemetry sends error messages and stack traces after redacting the home folder; other local paths can remain in the text.
- The README discloses collection of error messages and stack traces, but the source confirms project-local paths are not redacted.
Evidence against
- The README describes the telemetry and provides an opt-out.
- The preinstall hook only checks the Node.js version and exits if it is unsupported.
- The package says it does not send prompts, model output, paper content, or tool arguments.
Behavioral surface
ChildProcessCryptoDynamicRequireEnvironmentVarsFilesystemNetworkShell
HighEntropyStringsTelemetryUrlStrings
Source & flagged code
5 flaggedpackage.jsonView file
•scripts.preinstall = node ./scripts/check-node-version.mjs
High
Install Time Lifecycle Scripts
Package defines install-time lifecycle scripts.
package.jsonView on unpkgbin/feynman.jsView file
23if (compareNodeVersions(parseNodeVersion(process.versions.node), parseNodeVersion(MIN_NODE_VERSION)) < 0) {
L24: const isWindows = process.platform === "win32";
L25: console.error(`feynman requires Node.js ${MIN_NODE_VERSION} or newer (detected ${process.versions.node}).`);
L26: console.error(isWindows
L27: ? "Install a supported Node.js release from https://nodejs.org, or use the standalone installer:"
L28: : `Switch to a supported Node release with \`nvm install ${PREFERRED_NODE_MAJOR} && nvm use ${PREFERRED_NODE_MAJOR}\`, or use the standalone installer:`);
...
L35:
L36: // `--version` needs only package.json; answer it without loading the CLI.
L37: if (process.argv.length === 3 && (process.argv[2] === "--version" || process.argv[2] === "-v")) {
L38: const { readFileSync } = await
High
Sandbox Evasion Gated Capability
Source gates dangerous network, credential, or execution behavior behind CI, host, platform, time, or geo fingerprint checks.
bin/feynman.jsView on unpkg · L23Findings
3 High5 Medium5 Low
HighInstall Time Lifecycle Scriptspackage.json
HighSandbox Evasion Gated Capabilitybin/feynman.js
HighSemantic Analysis Limiteddist/cli.js#virtual:normalized:round1
MediumDynamic Requirebin/feynman.js
MediumNetwork
MediumEnvironment Vars
MediumShips Build Helperscripts/install/install-skills.sh
MediumStructural Risk Force Deep Review
LowScripts Present
LowFilesystem
LowHigh Entropy Strings
LowTelemetry
LowUrl Strings
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to @companion-ai/feynman@0.5.63.
See all versions of @companion-ai/feynman for other recorded verdicts.
- Review the evidence and your use of @companion-ai/feynman@0.5.63 before allowing it. Restrict the permissions described in this report.
- Choose an independently verified alternative or release. This report does not establish that other versions are safe.
Evidence last updated: .
Think this verdict is wrong? Dispute it on GitHub or read how reports are produced.