registry / Remote code execution / chai-as-hardened

chai-as-hardened

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

This report shows the evidence for chai-as-hardened@7.0.9, 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 3mo ago · by lpm-firewall-ai

Source inspection confirms a concrete remote-code-execution chain, not merely suspicious primitives. The lack of install hooks limits the trigger to package use but does not reduce the impact of arbitrary runtime payload execution.

Static reason

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

Trigger

A consumer invokes the exported middleware function from `index.js`.

Impact

Remote endpoint operators can run arbitrary Node.js code with the consuming application's permissions.

Mechanism

Detached remote payload fetch followed by dynamic code execution.

Attack narrative

At runtime, calling the exported middleware starts a detached Node process running `lib/initializeCaller.js`. It Base64-decodes a hard-coded endpoint, fetches JSON from it with a header, extracts `data.cookie`, compiles that response through `Function.constructor`, and invokes it with `require`. This is a remote, mutable payload channel that executes with the consumer's local Node permissions and hides normal child output.

AI rationale

Evidence

package.jsonindex.jslib/initializeCaller.jslib/const.jsREADME.md

Network endpoints1

tomato-brunhilda-40.tiiny.site/index.json

Decision evidence

public snapshot

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

Evidence for block

`index.js` spawns detached Node child when exported middleware is invoked.
`lib/initializeCaller.js` decodes an obscured remote URL and issues an Axios GET.
The remote response field is compiled with `Function.constructor` and executed with `require`.
The request retries silently up to five times; detached child uses ignored stdio.
`package.json` has no lifecycle hooks, so activation is runtime rather than install-time.

Evidence against

No package lifecycle scripts (`preinstall`, `install`, or `postinstall`) are declared.
No AI-agent configuration or persistence-control paths were found in inspected runtime source.

Behavioral surface

Source

ChildProcessEnvironmentVarsNetwork

Supply chain

HighEntropyStringsUrlStrings

ManifestNo manifest risk signals triggered.

scanned 17 file(s), 52.9 KB of source, external domains: github.com

Source & flagged code

3 flagged

lib/initializeCaller.jsView file

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

High

Base64 Obscured Url

Source decodes a Base64-obscured HTTP endpoint at runtime.

lib/initializeCaller.jsView on unpkg · L2

index.jsView file

•matchType = malicious_source_fingerprint_signature signature = 306e52008bef5331 signatureType = suspicious_hashes sourceLabel = final_verdict:malicious matchedPackage = chai-as-verified@7.1.5 matchedPath = index.js matchedIdentity = npm:Y2hhaS1hcy12ZXJpZmllZA:7.1.5 similarity = 1.000 shingleOverlap = 12 summary = package final verdict is malicious

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/initializeCaller.jsView file

High

Base64 Obscured Url

Source decodes a Base64-obscured HTTP endpoint at runtime.

lib/initializeCaller.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/initializeCaller.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-hardened@7.0.9.

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

Avoid installing chai-as-hardened@7.0.9. 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: 2026-07-14 21:04:39.632Z (UTC).

Source advisory published: 2026-07-14 20:33:37.000Z (UTC).

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

Versions

1 known version

7.0.9latestshownMaliciousRemote Code ExecutionBlockPublishedJul 13, 2026, 11:48 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

Source & flagged code

Related packages

Other remote code execution packages