registry / Malware / hardhat-cap

hardhat-cap

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

This report shows the evidence for hardhat-cap@2.21.1. 1 of 2 known versions is blocked or flagged. The newest version, 0.0.1-security, is allowed. See all versions.

AI Security Review

scanned 3mo ago · by lpm-firewall-ai

Source inspection confirms an import-reachable opaque payload with dynamic execution and host/network-capable primitives, not merely scanner labeling. Absence of lifecycle hooks does not mitigate runtime import execution.

Static reason

High-risk behavior combination matched malicious policy.; source fingerprint signature matched known malicious package; routed for review

Trigger

require/import of hardhat-cap

Impact

Unconsented host access and remotely directed malicious behavior may occur at import time.

Mechanism

eager execution of obfuscated dynamic payload

Attack narrative

The main entrypoint immediately imports lib/config.js. That file is an unusually large, deliberately obfuscated payload with runtime decoding, indirect dynamic execution, filesystem traversal, and HTTP/HTTPS handling; these capabilities are unrelated to the exported no-op middleware. Its opacity prevents safe attribution to a legitimate package function and creates an import-time execution surface.

AI rationale

Evidence

package.jsonindex.jslib/config.js

Decision evidence

public snapshot

AI called this Malicious at 97.0% confidence as Malware with low false-positive risk.

Evidence for block

index.js eagerly requires ./lib/config on import.
lib/config.js is a 4.06 MB single-line, heavily obfuscated executable payload.
lib/config.js contains runtime string decryption and indirect Function/global-object construction.
lib/config.js includes obfuscated filesystem traversal and HTTP/HTTPS URL handling.

Evidence against

package.json has no install lifecycle hooks.
index.js exports a superficially benign middleware wrapper.

Behavioral surface

Source

ChildProcessEnvironmentVars

Supply chain

HighEntropyStringsMinifiedUrlStrings

ManifestNo manifest risk signals triggered.

scanned 15 file(s), 307 KB of source, external domains: github.com

Oversized source lightweight scan

lib/config.js3.87 MB file, sampled 256 KB

HighEntropyStrings

Source & flagged code

5 flagged

index.jsView file

3const path = require('path'); L4: const { spawn } = require('child_process'); L5: const { DEFAULT_LEVELS, SORTING_ORDER } = require('./lib/constants');

High

Child Process

Package source references child process execution.

index.jsView on unpkg · L3

lib/config.jsView file

1function yS(F,S,Y,E,i){const Fq={F:0x6e};return T(i-Fq.F,S);}function yY(F,S,Y,E,i){const FC={F:0x49};return T(i-FC.F,S);}function yn(F,S,Y,E,i){const Fn={F:0x1ba};return j(S- -Fn....

Critical

Download Execute

Source downloads or fetches remote code and executes it.

lib/config.jsView on unpkg · L1

1Trigger-reachable chain: manifest.main -> index.js -> lib/config.js L1: function yS(F,S,Y,E,i){const Fq={F:0x6e};return T(i-Fq.F,S);}function yY(F,S,Y,E,i){const FC={F:0x49};return T(i-FC.F,S);}function yn(F,S,Y,E,i){const Fn={F:0x1ba};return j(S- -Fn....

Critical

Trigger Reachable Dangerous Capability

A package entrypoint or install-time lifecycle script reaches a source file with blocking dangerous behavior.

lib/config.jsView on unpkg · L1

•stage = ast_semantic_analysis; reason = ast_path_work_budget_exceeded; limitedFiles = 1

High

Semantic Analysis Limited

A bounded semantic-analysis stage reached its safety limit; remaining detectors completed, but this package requires AI review.

lib/config.jsView on unpkg

lib/tools.jsView file

•matchType = malicious_source_fingerprint_signature signature = 8d2e4ca7c22e8649 signatureType = suspicious_hashes sourceLabel = final_verdict:malicious matchedPackage = hardhat-set@2.21.0 matchedPath = lib/tools.js matchedIdentity = npm:aGFyZGhhdC1zZXQ:2.21.0 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.

lib/tools.jsView on unpkg

Source & flagged code

5 flagged · loading source

index.jsView file

3const path = require('path'); L4: const { spawn } = require('child_process'); L5: const { DEFAULT_LEVELS, SORTING_ORDER } = require('./lib/constants');

High

Child Process

Package source references child process execution.

index.jsView on unpkg · L3

lib/config.jsView file

1function yS(F,S,Y,E,i){const Fq={F:0x6e};return T(i-Fq.F,S);}function yY(F,S,Y,E,i){const FC={F:0x49};return T(i-FC.F,S);}function yn(F,S,Y,E,i){const Fn={F:0x1ba};return j(S- -Fn....

Critical

Download Execute

Source downloads or fetches remote code and executes it.

lib/config.jsView on unpkg · L1

Critical

Trigger Reachable Dangerous Capability

A package entrypoint or install-time lifecycle script reaches a source file with blocking dangerous behavior.

Findings

2 Critical3 High2 Medium3 Low

CriticalDownload Executelib/config.js

CriticalTrigger Reachable Dangerous Capabilitylib/config.js

HighChild Processindex.js

HighSemantic Analysis Limitedlib/config.js

HighKnown Malware Source Fingerprint Signaturelib/tools.js

MediumEnvironment Vars

MediumStructural Risk Force Deep Review

LowScripts Present

LowHigh Entropy Strings

LowUrl Strings

Affected versions and remediation

This report applies to hardhat-cap@2.21.1.

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

Avoid installing hardhat-cap@2.21.1. 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: 2026-09-28 16:45:40.839Z (UTC).

Source advisory published: 2026-08-07 16:30:20.000Z (UTC).

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

Versions

2 known versions

0.0.1-securitylatestClean—AllowPublishedSep 28, 2026, 4:00 PM 2.21.1shownMaliciousMalwareBlockPublishedAug 7, 2026, 12:19 PM

AI Security Review

Decision evidence

Source & flagged code

Source & flagged code

Findings

Affected versions and remediation

Versions

Related packages

Other malware packages

Behavioral surface

Source & flagged code

Related packages

Other malware packages