@punks/cli@5.0.1
Harness Intelligence scaffolding CLI
AI Security Review
scanned 2mo ago · by lpm-firewall-aiThe package is not malicious by static inspection, but it has an explicit user-command capability to modify AI-agent control surfaces. The static blob and obfuscation alerts are explained by a compressed baseline archive and a bundled, minified CLI rather than a confirmed attack chain.
Static reason
One or more suspicious static signals were detected.; previous stored version diff introduced dangerous source
Trigger
A user runs the CLI scaffold or projection workflow.
Impact
It can change agent instructions, skills, hooks, and receipt files in the selected project.
Mechanism
Project-local agent configuration projection through a confined subprocess.
AI rationale
The package is not malicious by static inspection, but it has an explicit user-command capability to modify AI-agent control surfaces. The static blob and obfuscation alerts are explained by a compressed baseline archive and a bundled, minified CLI rather than a confirmed attack chain.
Evidence
dist/data/scripts/sync-subagents.mjs.agents/AGENTS.md.agents/skills.agents/hooks.devpunks/context-plan.json.devpunks/harness-projection-receipt.json.devpunks/scaffold-manifest.json
Decision evidence
public snapshotAI called this Suspicious at 84.0% confidence as Dangerous Capability with medium false-positive risk.
Evidence for warning
- A user-invoked bundled script targets agent instructions, skills, hooks, and project control files.
- The script starts Node subprocesses with fixed inline confinement code while applying projections.
Evidence against
- package.json has no preinstall, install, or postinstall hook.
- The inspected projection script has no network client or credential collection.
- The archive contains the same readable projection script; its compression is not an opaque executable payload.
- The CLI update check contacts the configured npm registry for version metadata, not command output.
Behavioral surface
ChildProcessCryptoEnvironmentVarsFilesystemNetworkShell
HighEntropyStringsMinifiedPossibleObfuscationProtestwareUrlStrings
Source & flagged code
11 flaggeddist/baseline/scaffold-baseline/skills/misc/timesheet/scripts/git-timesheet-evidence.mjsView file
1#!/usr/bin/env node
L2: import { execFileSync } from "node:child_process";
L3: import { existsSync, readdirSync, statSync } from "node:fs";
High
Child Process
Package source references child process execution.
dist/baseline/scaffold-baseline/skills/misc/timesheet/scripts/git-timesheet-evidence.mjsView on unpkg · L1dist/index.jsView file
151`)return yield*this.pushCount(1);else if(ch==="\r"&&this.charAt(1)===`
L152: `)return yield*this.pushCount(2);else return 0}*pushSpaces(allowTabs){let i=this.pos-1;let ch;do{ch=this.buffer[++i]}while(ch===" "||allowTabs&&ch==="\t");const n=i-this.pos;if(n>0...
L153: `)+1;while(nl!==0){this.onNewLine(this.offset+nl);nl=this.source.indexOf(`
...
L155: `)+1;while(nl!==0){this.onNewLine(this.offset+nl);nl=this.source.indexOf(`
L156: `,nl)+1}}return{type,offset:this.offset,indent:this.indent,source:this.source}}startBlockValue(parent){switch(this.type){case"alias":case"scalar":case"single-quoted-scalar":case"do...
L157: `+ind(d+1));return`[
High
Findings
1 Critical7 High8 Medium6 Low
CriticalPrevious Version Dangerous Deltadist/baseline/scaffold-baseline/data/scripts/sync-subagents.mjs
HighChild Processdist/baseline/scaffold-baseline/skills/misc/timesheet/scripts/git-timesheet-evidence.mjs
HighShell
HighSame File Env Network Executiondist/index.js
HighCommand Output Exfiltrationdist/index.js
HighObfuscated Payload Loaderdist/index.js
HighTrigger Reachable Command Output Exfiltrationdist/index.js
HighShips High Entropy Blobdist/baseline/scaffold-baseline.tgz
MediumUnsafe Vm Contextdist/index.js
MediumNetwork
MediumEnvironment Vars
MediumProtestware
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to @punks/cli@5.0.1.
See all versions of @punks/cli for other recorded verdicts.
- Review the evidence and your use of @punks/cli@5.0.1 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: .
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