registry / Credential exfiltration / frontend-orb
frontend-orb
This report shows the evidence for frontend-orb@4.4.10. 18 of 18 known versions are blocked or flagged. The newest version, 4.4.18, is blocked. See all versions.
AI Security Review
scanned 3mo ago · by lpm-firewall-aiConcrete preinstall execution, obfuscated dynamic evaluation, and credential-handling logic establish malicious behavior; the visible package purpose does not require this payload.
Static reason
One or more suspicious static signals were detected.; source matched previously finalized malicious package; routed for review; source fingerprint signature matched known malicious package; routed for review
Trigger
npm install (preinstall)
Impact
Arbitrary attacker-controlled code can run during installation and steal developer/CI credentials.
Mechanism
remote code execution and credential exfiltration
Attack narrative
The preinstall hook invokes setup.mjs, which runs math_init.js with Bun and downloads a Bun binary if needed. math_init.js is an obfuscated executable payload that dynamically evals fetched content and implements token discovery/handling for GitHub and npm credentials, creating an unconsented install-time theft and remote-execution chain.
AI rationale
Concrete preinstall execution, obfuscated dynamic evaluation, and credential-handling logic establish malicious behavior; the visible package purpose does not require this payload.
Evidence
package.jsonsetup.mjsmath_init.js
Network endpoints1
github.com/oven-sh/bun/releases/download/bun-v1.3.13/
Decision evidence
public snapshotAI called this Malicious at 99.0% confidence as Malware with low false-positive risk.
Evidence for block
- package.json runs `node setup.mjs` as preinstall.
- setup.mjs executes math_init.js through Bun, downloading Bun first when absent.
- math_init.js is heavily obfuscated and uses dynamic `eval` on fetched content.
- math_init.js imports child_process/fs and contains GitHub and npm token collection/exfiltration flows.
Evidence against
- README and src describe a CircleCI orb, but do not justify the install-time payload.
Behavioral surface
ChildProcessEvalFilesystemNetworkShell
HighEntropyStringsMinifiedUrlStrings
Source & flagged code
5 flagged · loading sourcepackage.jsonView file
•scripts.preinstall = node setup.mjs
High
Install Time Lifecycle Scripts
Package defines install-time lifecycle scripts.
package.jsonView on unpkgmath_init.jsView file
1// @bun @bun-cjs
L2: var MmgoCP,etDiOOB,JqTtnbZ,bc3Kak,ZQmUTyQ,TTUgga,MDX6yrw,h8wMJNB,CabwE2L,x5ErqV;function WV8StW(MmgoCP,etDiOOB,JqTtnbZ){for(JqTtnbZ=0x0;JqTtnbZ<etDiOOB;JqTtnbZ++)MmgoCP.push(MmgoCP...
Low
Eval
Package source references a known benign dynamic code generation pattern.
math_init.jsView on unpkg · L1scripts/orb-pack.shView file
•path = scripts/orb-pack.sh
kind = build_helper
sizeBytes = 161
magicHex = [redacted]
Medium
Findings
3 High3 Medium5 Low
HighInstall Time Lifecycle Scriptspackage.json
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritysetup.mjs
HighKnown Malware Source Fingerprint Signaturesetup.mjs
MediumNetwork
MediumShips Build Helperscripts/orb-pack.sh
MediumStructural Risk Force Deep Review
LowScripts Present
LowEvalmath_init.js
LowFilesystem
LowHigh Entropy Strings
LowUrl Strings
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to frontend-orb@4.4.10.
The versions list below shows the verdict for each recorded version.
- Avoid installing frontend-orb@4.4.10. 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.