@markus-global/cli@0.12.2
Markus — AI Digital Workforce Platform
AI Security Review
scanned 4d ago · by lpm-firewall-aiAutomatic backend initialization can pair OPENAI_API_KEY with the default Anthropic provider and persist it as that provider's key. This creates a concrete cross-provider credential disclosure path, so the package should be blocked.
Static reason
No blocking static signals were detected.; source matched previously finalized malicious package; routed for review
Trigger
Starting the exported backend when its config file is absent; later provider use sends the configured credential.
Impact
An OpenAI API key may be disclosed to Anthropic's API endpoint.
Mechanism
Initialization defaults the provider to Anthropic, falls back to OPENAI_API_KEY, and stores the resulting key under the selected provider. Startup then loads that provider's credential for requests.
Attack narrative
If the backend starts without an existing config and only OPENAI_API_KEY is available, automatic initialization defaults to Anthropic but accepts that OpenAI key as its credential. It persists the key for the Anthropic provider, and startup loads it into that provider's configuration, so subsequent provider requests can send the OpenAI key to Anthropic.
AI rationale
Automatic backend initialization can pair OPENAI_API_KEY with the default Anthropic provider and persist it as that provider's key. This creates a concrete cross-provider credential disclosure path, so the package should be blocked.
Evidence
dist/backend.jsdist/commands/init.jsdist/commands/start.js~/.markus/markus.json~/.markus/.env
Network endpoints1
api.anthropic.com
Decision evidence
public snapshotAI called this Malicious at 91.0% confidence as Malware with low false-positive risk.
Evidence for block
- When non-interactive initialization has no provider option, it selects Anthropic but falls back to reading OPENAI_API_KEY.
- That key is saved as the selected provider's credential, and startup loads it into that provider's configuration; an OpenAI key can therefore be sent to Anthropic when the service uses that provider.
- The backend automatically runs non-interactive initialization when its config file is missing.
Evidence against
- The package declares no install, preinstall, or postinstall lifecycle script.
- The flagged shell and download behavior is in the explicit update command, which downloads releases from the project's GitHub releases host.
- The flagged doctor API-key validation runs as part of its explicit command and sends keys to the configured provider endpoint.
Behavioral surface
ChildProcessCryptoDynamicRequireEnvironmentVarsEvalFilesystemNetworkShellWebSocket
Source & flagged code
12 flaggeddist/utils/browser.jsView file
4*/
L5: import { exec } from 'node:child_process';
L6: import { get as httpGet } from 'node:http';
High
Child Process
Package source references child process execution.
dist/utils/browser.jsView on unpkg · L44*/
L5: import { exec } from 'node:child_process';
L6: import { get as httpGet } from 'node:http';
L7: import { platform } from 'node:os';
L8: export function openBrowser(url) {
L9: if (process.env['NO_BROWSER'])
L10: return;
High
Same File Env Network Execution
A single source file combines environment access, network access, and code or shell execution; review context before blocking.
dist/utils/browser.jsView on unpkg · L4dist/commands/update.jsView file
40stdio: 'inherit',
L41: shell: true,
L42: });
High
Shell
Findings
6 High7 Medium7 Low
HighChild Processdist/utils/browser.js
HighShelldist/commands/update.js
HighSame File Env Network Executiondist/utils/browser.js
HighShips High Entropy Blobdist/markus-browser-extension.zip
HighSemantic Analysis Limiteddist/web-ui/assets/DeliverableShareModal-BjrQLmcX.js#virtual:normalized:round1
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/web-ui/assets/chunk-AQP2D5EJ-DQb0__Jh.js
MediumDynamic Requiredist/web-ui/assets/viz-global-C_AyN6D9.js
MediumNetwork
MediumEnvironment Vars
MediumShips Compressed Blobdist/markus-browser-extension.zip
MediumOversized Source Filedist/web-ui/assets/plantuml-DezRDxd4.js
Medium
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to @markus-global/cli@0.12.2.
See all versions of @markus-global/cli for other recorded verdicts.
- Avoid installing @markus-global/cli@0.12.2. 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: .
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