registry / Remote code execution / chai-as-balanced

chai-as-balanced

This document describes the management of vulnerabilities for the project and all modules within the organization.

This report shows the evidence for chai-as-balanced@2.2.3, the only known version.

This package appears in our research on the fake chai plugin campaign, with how it works, the full package list and what to do if you installed it.

AI Security Review

scanned 4mo ago · by lpm-firewall-ai

Direct source inspection confirms remote payload execution from an obfuscated endpoint on runtime activation, which is concrete malicious behavior. Lack of install hooks limits trigger timing but does not reduce the arbitrary code execution impact.

Static reason

One or more suspicious static signals were detected.; source fingerprint signature matched known malicious package; routed for review

Trigger

Calling the exported middleware from index.js, or importing lib/transport.js.

Impact

Arbitrary remote code execution in the consumer environment under the package user's privileges.

Mechanism

detached child process plus remote code fetch and Function execution

Attack narrative

A consumer imports chai-as-balanced and calls the exported middleware. index.js starts a detached Node process running lib/caller.js. That file decodes a hidden jsonstorage URL and header, downloads a `cookie` field, then executes it as JavaScript via Function constructor with `require` access. The copied Pino material and dependency set make the package look like a logger while hiding a remote payload loader.

AI rationale

Evidence

package.jsonindex.jslib/caller.jslib/transport.jsREADME.md

Network endpoints1

api.jsonstorage.net/v1/json/2ef8c758-a96f-459e-b036-b3b90379a165/a179ea35-b962-4722-b3f1-e28316d1a44a

Decision evidence

public snapshot

AI called this Malicious at 99.0% confidence as Malware with low false-positive risk.

Evidence for block

package.json main is index.js and declares axios/request/sqlite3 despite plugin-style README mismatch.
index.js exports middleware that spawns detached `node ./lib/caller.js` when invoked.
lib/caller.js decodes an obfuscated jsonstorage URL and secret header values.
lib/caller.js fetches `.data.cookie` from the remote endpoint and executes it with `new Function.constructor("require", s)`.
lib/transport.js also requires `./caller`, causing the same file to run on that import path.
Package appears to contain copied Pino docs/code while published as chai-as-balanced.

Evidence against

No npm preinstall/install/postinstall lifecycle scripts in package.json.
No source inspection evidence of local file writes or explicit credential harvesting before the remote payload executes.

Behavioral surface

Source

ChildProcessEnvironmentVarsNetwork

Supply chain

HighEntropyStringsUrlStrings

Manifest

Source & flagged code

3 flagged

lib/caller.jsView file

2L3: const axios = require("axios"); L4: const process = { ... L12: (async function loadCallers(..._args) { L13: const src = atob(process.env.DEV_API_KEY); L14: const k = atob(process.env.DEV_SECRET_KEY);

High

Base64 Obscured Url

Source decodes a Base64-obscured HTTP endpoint at runtime.

lib/caller.jsView on unpkg · L2

index.jsView file

•matchType = malicious_source_fingerprint_signature signature = 306e52008bef5331 signatureType = suspicious_hashes sourceLabel = OpenSSF malicious-packages matchedPackage = chai-as-synced@6.0.3 matchedPath = index.js matchedIdentity = npm:Y2hhaS1hcy1zeW5jZWQ:6.0.3 similarity = 1.000 shingleOverlap = 12 summary = Malicious code in chai-as-synced (npm)

High

Known Malware Source Fingerprint Signature

Source fingerprint signature matches a known malicious package signature; route for source-aware review.

index.jsView on unpkg

docs/transports.mdView file

550patternName = generic_password severity = medium line = 550 matchedText = password...rd',

Medium

Secret Pattern

Hardcoded password in docs/transports.md

docs/transports.mdView on unpkg · L550

Source & flagged code

3 flagged · loading source

lib/caller.jsView file

High

Base64 Obscured Url

Source decodes a Base64-obscured HTTP endpoint at runtime.

lib/caller.jsView on unpkg · L2

index.jsView file

High

Known Malware Source Fingerprint Signature

Source fingerprint signature matches a known malicious package signature; route for source-aware review.

index.jsView on unpkg

docs/transports.mdView file

Findings

3 High3 Medium3 Low

HighEval

HighBase64 Obscured Urllib/caller.js

HighKnown Malware Source Fingerprint Signatureindex.js

MediumNetwork

MediumEnvironment Vars

MediumSecret Patterndocs/transports.md

LowScripts Present

LowHigh Entropy Strings

LowUrl Strings

Affected versions and remediation

This report applies to chai-as-balanced@2.2.3.

The versions list below shows the verdict for each recorded version.

Avoid installing chai-as-balanced@2.2.3. 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: 2026-07-09 16:31:52.983Z (UTC).

Source advisory published: 2026-07-09 15:32:15.000Z (UTC).

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

Versions

1 known version

2.2.3latestshownMaliciousRemote Code ExecutionBlockPublishedJul 9, 2026, 2:42 PM

AI Security Review

Decision evidence

Source & flagged code

Source & flagged code

Findings

Affected versions and remediation

Versions

Related packages

Other remote code execution packages

Behavioral surface

Related packages

Other remote code execution packages

Source & flagged code