registry / AI-agent capability abuse / @zortexhq/install / 0.1.39

@zortexhq/install@0.1.39

Package no longer supported. Contact Support at https://www.npmjs.com/support for more info.

Zortex Windows Codex bootstrap

AI Security Review

scanned 21d ago · by lpm-firewall-ai

Inspected source supports a warning for user-invoked agent configuration and subsequent automatic package updates. It does not establish malware or an install-time control hijack.

Static reason

One or more suspicious static signals were detected.

Trigger

CLI onboarding, bootstrap, or Autopilot connection with Codex selected.

Impact

Changes future agent instructions and available tools; later package releases can update recognized package-owned skill contents.

Mechanism

Writes the package-owned skill and invokes Codex MCP registration, while preserving conflicting entries. CLI execution also checks for and installs newer package releases without a separate update prompt.

AI rationale

Inspected source supports a warning for user-invoked agent configuration and subsequent automatic package updates. It does not establish malware or an install-time control hijack.

Evidence

bin/zortex.jsdist/zortex.js.codexskills/zortex/SKILL.md

Decision evidence

public snapshot

AI called this Suspicious at 90.0% confidence as Dangerous Capability with medium false-positive risk.

Evidence for warning

The manifest exposes a CLI and contains no npm install lifecycle hooks or runtime self-dependency.
The CLI automatically installs the latest release of its own package unless update guards apply.
Codex setup writes the package-owned skill and registers the Zortex MCP server; conflicting existing configurations are preserved.
Agent setup is reached through CLI onboarding, bootstrap, or an explicitly selected Autopilot host, rather than npm installation.
The daemon contains HTTP transport with manual redirect handling; inspected transport code does not establish covert exfiltration.

Evidence against

No concrete malicious install chain, credential theft, or unrelated remote payload execution was established.
Codex setup checks existing entries, preserves conflicting contents, and provides rollback.

Behavioral surface

Source

ChildProcessDynamicRequireEnvironmentVarsFilesystemNetwork

Supply chain

Source & flagged code

6 flagged

bin/zortex.jsView file

3L4: const { spawnSync } = require("node:child_process"); L5: const { copyFileSync, cpSync, existsSync, mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, readFileSync, renameSync, statSync } = require("node:fs");

High

Child Process

Package source references child process execution.

bin/zortex.jsView on unpkg · L3

3Cross-file remote execution chain: bin/zortex.js spawns dist/zortex.js; helper contains network access plus dynamic code execution. L3: L4: const { spawnSync } = require("node:child_process"); L5: const { copyFileSync, cpSync, existsSync, mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, readFileSync, renameSync, statSync } = require("node:fs"); ... L8: L9: const ROOT = join(__dirname, ".."); L10: const PACKAGE_NAME = "@zortexhq/install"; ... L12: function packageVersion(packageRoot = ROOT) { L13: const version = JSON.parse(readFileSync(join(packageRoot, "package.json"), "utf8")).version; L14: if (typeof version !== "string" || !/^[0-9A-Za-z.-]+$/.test(version)) throw new Error("package version is invalid"); ... L17: L18: function runtimeEnv(packageRoot = ROOT, env = process.env) { L19: return { ...env, ZORTEX_R

High

Cross File Remote Execution Context

Source spawns a local helper that also contains network and dynamic execution context; review data flow before blocking.

bin/zortex.jsView on unpkg · L3

3L4: const { spawnSync } = require("node:child_process"); L5: const { copyFileSync, cpSync, existsSync, mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, readFileSync, renameSync, statSync } = require("node:fs");

Medium

Dynamic Require

Package source references dynamic require/import behavior.

bin/zortex.jsView on unpkg · L3

dist/indrad-main.jsView file

518`,"utf8");if(Z.length>=this.size)return;if(this.writeOffset+Z.length>this.size){let Q=this.size-this.writeOffset;if(Q>0)XY(this.fd,Buffer.alloc(Q),0,Q,f9+this.writeOffset);this.wri... L519: `);return(X>=0?Q.slice(X+1):"")+Z}close(){this.flushHeader(),oC(this.fd)}}w();class l1{talon;constructor($){this.talon=$}requestRecall($,Z){if($.by==="watchdog"&&Z.kind!=="kernel")... L520: budget_tokens, budget_usd, budget_wallclock_min, respawn_of, reap_count, model_pin, trace_id, ... L531: `)}async submit($,Z,Q){let X=this.awaitHandshake();this.write({t:"submit",order:$,slice:Z,workerType:Q});let z=await X;if(z.t==="submitted")return this.runId=z.runId,H({runId:z.run... L532: `,"\\n")}function i0($,Z){return`${$} = "${pN(Z)}"`}var TJ=0;function lN($=process.env){let Z=$.ZORTEX_WAN_TRANSPORT?.tr

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/indrad-main.jsView on unpkg · L518

518`,"utf8");if(Z.length>=this.size)return;if(this.writeOffset+Z.length>this.size){let Q=this.size-this.writeOffset;if(Q>0)XY(this.fd,Buffer.alloc(Q),0,Q,f9+this.writeOffset);this.wri... L519: `);return(X>=0?Q.slice(X+1):"")+Z}close(){this.flushHeader(),oC(this.fd)}}w();class l1{talon;constructor($){this.talon=$}requestRecall($,Z){if($.by==="watchdog"&&Z.kind!=="kernel")... L520: budget_tokens, budget_usd, budget_wallclock_min, respawn_of, reap_count, model_pin, trace_id, ... L527: terminal_order_failure_reason = ? L528: WHERE run_id = ?`).run(L,Z,J,U,Y??null,$)}else if(W.terminal_payload_json!==J||W.terminal_summary_json!==U||W.terminal_order_failure_reason!==(Y??null))return x("failed_preconditio... L529: `);while(Z>=0){let Q=this.buffer.slice(0,Z).trim();if(this.buffer=this.buffer.sl

High

Command Output Exfiltration

Source combines command execution, command-output handling, and outbound requests; review data flow before blocking.

dist/indrad-main.js

dist/windows-uia-oauth.ps1View file

•path = dist/windows-uia-oauth.ps1 kind = build_helper sizeBytes = 28170 magicHex = [redacted]

Medium

Ships Build Helper

Package ships non-JavaScript build or shell helper files.

dist/windows-uia-oauth.ps1View on unpkg

Source & flagged code

6 flagged · loading source

bin/zortex.jsView file

3L4: const { spawnSync } = require("node:child_process"); L5: const { copyFileSync, cpSync, existsSync, mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, readFileSync, renameSync, statSync } = require("node:fs");

High

Child Process

Package source references child process execution.

bin/zortex.jsView on unpkg · L3

High

Cross File Remote Execution Context

Source spawns a local helper that also contains network and dynamic execution context; review data flow before blocking.

bin/zortex.jsView on unpkg · L3

3L4: const { spawnSync } = require("node:child_process"); L5: const { copyFileSync, cpSync, existsSync, mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, readFileSync, renameSync, statSync } = require("node:fs");

Findings

4 High5 Medium5 Low

HighChild Processbin/zortex.js

HighSame File Env Network Executiondist/indrad-main.js

HighCommand Output Exfiltrationdist/indrad-main.js

HighCross File Remote Execution Contextbin/zortex.js

MediumDynamic Requirebin/zortex.js

MediumNetwork

MediumEnvironment Vars

MediumShips Build Helperdist/windows-uia-oauth.ps1

MediumStructural Risk Force Deep Review

LowFilesystem

LowHigh Entropy Strings

LowTelemetry

LowUrl Strings

LowNo License

Affected versions and remediation

This report applies to @zortexhq/install@0.1.39.

See all versions of @zortexhq/install for other recorded verdicts.

Review the evidence and your use of @zortexhq/install@0.1.39 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: 2026-10-01 22:18:00.917Z (UTC).

Think this verdict is wrong? Dispute it on GitHub or read how reports are produced.