@cotal-ai/cli@0.129.5
Cotal mesh CLI: up, join, watch, console, spawn, mint, channels, history, ext.
AI Security Review
scanned 6d ago · by lpm-firewall-aiThe package sends first-party runtime telemetry by default, and non-interactive runs can send it without displaying the notice. The data is usage-focused and the CLI offers an off setting, so this is suspicious telemetry rather than evidence of malware.
Static reason
One or more suspicious static signals were detected.; source matched previously finalized malicious package; routed for review
Trigger
Running a CLI command when telemetry settings are absent or set to regular; the notice is gated on stderr being a TTY.
Impact
Usage and limited environment metadata are disclosed to the publisher without an in-session notice in non-interactive contexts.
Mechanism
The CLI records command and installation events and sends them to its telemetry endpoint unless telemetry is off.
AI rationale
The package sends first-party runtime telemetry by default, and non-interactive runs can send it without displaying the notice. The data is usage-focused and the CLI offers an off setting, so this is suspicious telemetry rather than evidence of malware.
Evidence
dist/telemetry.js.lpm-dependency-evidence-1a6d3844-db7e-4909-bc98-64e4f75241ce/1/npm-linux/dist/telemetry.js
Network endpoints1
cotal.ai/v1/telemetry
Decision evidence
public snapshotAI called this Suspicious at 86.0% confidence as Dangerous Capability with medium false-positive risk.
Evidence for warning
- When telemetry settings are absent, the workspace dependency creates them at the regular level with a random install ID.
- The CLI sends telemetry for commands unless the effective level is off; it prints its notice only for a first regular-level run with a TTY.
- Regular command events include the command, subcommand, flags, hashed account ID, and sanitized error details.
- The default telemetry endpoint is the package publisher’s service, cotal.ai.
Evidence against
- Telemetry is limited to usage and installation metadata, and its notice says it avoids arguments, paths, names, and content.
- The CLI provides an off setting, and the endpoint is the publisher’s own service rather than an unrelated collector.
Behavioral surface
ChildProcessCryptoDynamicRequireEnvironmentVarsFilesystemNetworkShell
HighEntropyStringsUrlStrings
Source & flagged code
18 flaggeddist/seed/reconcile.jsView file
1import { existsSync, renameSync } from "node:fs";
L2: import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
L3: import { randomBytes } from "node:crypto";
High
Child Process
Package source references child process execution.
dist/seed/reconcile.jsView on unpkg · L1dist/lib/persona-files.jsView file
274process.on(signal, pass);
L275: const child = program ? spawn(program, [draft], { stdio: "inherit" }) : spawn(`${editor} ${quoted}`, { shell: true, stdio: "inherit" });
L276: return new Promise(resolve => {
High
dist/lib/nats-bin.jsView file
Findings
17 High4 Medium4 Low
HighChild Processdist/seed/reconcile.js
HighShelldist/lib/persona-files.js
HighTrigger Reachable External Ai Agent Control Surface Mutationdist/lib/agent-skills.js
HighRuntime Package Installdist/commands/setup.js
HighSemantic Analysis Limiteddist/commands/ext.js
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/telemetry.js
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/commands/up.js
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/lib/self-exec.js
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/lib/service-process.js
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/commands/ext.js
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/commands/setup-start.js
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to @cotal-ai/cli@0.129.5.
See all versions of @cotal-ai/cli for other recorded verdicts.
- Review the evidence and your use of @cotal-ai/cli@0.129.5 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.