registry / instar / 1.3.1378

instar@1.3.1378

Coherence infrastructure for self-evolving AI agents — on the Claude Code or Codex subscription you already have.

AI Security Review

scanned 4d ago · by lpm-firewall-ai

Source inspection found a first-party macOS watchdog installed by the runtime post-update migrator, with a recovery path that installs the floating latest release. This leaves residual persistence and supply-chain risk, but does not establish malicious behavior or an install-hook attack.

Static reason

High-risk behavior combination matched malicious policy.; previous stored version diff introduced dangerous source

Trigger

A macOS agent runs its post-update migration and the watchdog LaunchAgent plist or script needs updating; later, watchdog recovery runs if a shadow install is missing.

Impact

This leaves a persistent background recovery service and allows recovery to install a release selected at runtime, creating residual lifecycle and supply-chain risk.

Mechanism

The migrator writes a launchd plist and watchdog script under the user’s home directory and reloads launchd. The watchdog runs on a five-minute interval and may run npm install for `instar@latest` when repairing the shadow install.

AI rationale

Evidence

dist/core/PostUpdateMigrator.jssrc/templates/scripts/instar-watchdog.sh

Decision evidence

public snapshot

AI called this Suspicious at 79.0% confidence as Dangerous Capability with medium false-positive risk.

Evidence for warning

On macOS, the post-update migrator writes a LaunchAgent and reloads it when its plist changes.
The watchdog runs every five minutes and can repair a missing shadow install by installing the floating `instar@latest` dependency.
The agent-integration targets inspected concern project-local skills, hooks, framework discovery, project files, or capability mapping.
The credential excerpts show local keychain reads and writes; the quota excerpt describes scheduler pausing.

Evidence against

The manifest’s `postinstall` helper is for better-sqlite3 compatibility, and `prepare` runs Husky; neither establishes a malicious install-time agent mutation.
The inspected watchdog source describes recovery of registered Instar agents and contains no evidence of credential collection or external credential transfer.

Behavioral surface

Source

ChildProcessCryptoDynamicRequireEnvironmentVarsFilesystemNetworkShellWebSocket

Source & flagged code

18 flagged

package.jsonView file

Lines 45-85json

45 "lint:undefined-erasing-default-merge": "node scripts/lint-no-undefined-erasing-default-merge.js",

46 "lint:destructive": "node scripts/lint-no-direct-destructive.js",

47 "lint:dev-agent-dark-gate": "node scripts/lint-dev-agent-dark-gate.js",

48 "lint:guard-manifest": "node scripts/lint-guard-manifest.js",

49 "lint:dev-agent-dark-gate:staged": "node scripts/lint-dev-agent-dark-gate.js --staged",

50 "lint:destructive:staged": "node scripts/lint-no-direct-destructive.js --staged",

51 "lint:llm-http": "node scripts/lint-no-direct-llm-http.js",

52 "lint:scrape-realness": "node scripts/lint-scrape-fixture-realness.js",

53 "lint:scrape-realness:staged": "node scripts/lint-scrape-fixture-realness.js --staged",

54 "lint:llm-attribution": "node scripts/lint-llm-attribution.js",

55 "lint:llm-attribution:staged": "node scripts/lint-llm-attribution.js --staged",

56 "lint:llm-http:staged": "node scripts/lint-no-direct-llm-http.js --staged",

57 "lint:credential-write": "node scripts/lint-no-unfunneled-credential-write.js",

58 "lint:credential-write:staged": "node scripts/lint-no-unfunneled-credential-write.js --staged",

59 "clean": "rm -rf dist",

60 "check:upgrade-guide": "node scripts/check-upgrade-guide.js",

61 "check:pre-push-gate": "node scripts/pre-push-gate.js",

62 "check:release": "node scripts/analyze-release.js",

63 "check:contract-evidence": "node scripts/check-contract-evidence.js",

64 "prepublishOnly": "npm run build && node scripts/verify-codex-stage-b-release-evidence.mjs && npm run check:upgrade-guide && npm run check:contract-evidence",

65 "postinstall": "node scripts/fix-better-sqlite3.cjs",

High

Install Time Lifecycle Scripts

Package defines install-time lifecycle scripts.

package.jsonView on unpkg · L65

66 "prepare": "husky",

67 "lint:standards-registry-path": "node scripts/lint-no-direct-standards-registry-path.mjs",

68 "lint:framework-list": "node scripts/lint-framework-list-completeness.mjs"

69 },

70 "keywords": [

71 "instar",

72 "ai-agent",

73 "autonomous-agent",

74 "claude",

75 "claude-code",

76 "agent-framework",

77 "telegram-bot",

78 "job-scheduler",

79 "agent-memory",

80 "agent-identity",

81 "llm",

82 "mcp",

83 "cli",

84 "molt",

85 "lobster"

dist/threadline/PipeSessionSpawner.jsView file

Lines 1-35javascript

1/**

2 * PipeSessionSpawner — Spawns lightweight `claude -p` sessions for simple

3 * threadline queries. Sessions auto-exit when done, reducing zombie risk

4 * and session slot consumption.

5 *

6 * Part of RFC: Persistent Listener Daemon Architecture (Phase 2).

7 *

8 * Security model:

9 * - Messages wrapped in <untrusted-message> XML tags (injection-hardened)

10 * - Thread history LLM-summarized before injection (strips jailbreak assembly)

scripts/check-rule3-coverage.cjsView file

Lines 16-56javascript

16 * - tmux capture-pane / send-keys patterns

17 * - JSON.parse on subprocess stdout

18 * - new class

dist/commands/listener.jsView file

Lines 1-34javascript

1/**

2 * `instar listener` — Manage the standalone listener daemon.

3 *

4 * Commands:

5 * instar listener start — Start the listener daemon

6 * instar listener stop — Gracefully stop the daemon

7 * instar listener status — Show daemon state + connection info

8 * instar listener logs — Tail daemon log file

9 * instar listener restart — Graceful restart

10 * instar listener doctor — Pre-flight check

skills/spec-converge/scripts/publish-spec-review.mjsView file

Lines 1-40javascript

1#!/usr/bin/env node

2/**

3 * publish-spec-review.mjs — the sanctioned way to deliver a spec for review.

4 *

5 * Structure > Willpower: sending a spec for review WITHOUT a rendered,

6 * verified ELI16 tunnel link should be impossible, not something the agent

7 * remembers to attach. This script makes the correct delivery atomic:

8 *

9 * 1. Resolve the spec's ELI16 companion using the SAME convention the

10 * commit-time gate enforces (scripts/eli16-overview-check.mjs).

dist/messaging/TelegramAdapter.jsView file

•Manifest-reachable source captures an API credential, sends it to a fixed unofficial gateway, and persists that redirection in agent or shell configuration. dist/messaging/TelegramAdapter.js: import { INVITE_PREFIX } from '../threadline/PairingInvite.js'; fs.writeFileSync(tmpPath, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2)); fs.writeFileSync(tmpPath, JSON.stringify({ messageId, savedAt: new Date().toISOString() })); fs.writeFileSync(tmpPath, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2)); * Public read-only authorization check for a sender id (Know Your Principal #898, fs.writeFileSync(destPath, buffer); baseUrl: 'https://api.groq.com/openai/v1', baseUrl: 'https://api.openai.com/v1',

High

Credential Redirect Persistence

Manifest-reachable source sends a prompted API credential to a fixed unofficial gateway and persists the redirection.

dist/messaging/TelegramAdapter.jsView on unpkg

dist/core/GitSync.jsView file

Lines 1-32javascript

1/**

2 * Git-based state synchronization for multi-machine coordination.

3 *

4 * Handles:

5 * - Configuring git commit signing with machine Ed25519 keys

6 * - Commit signing verification on pull

7 * - Debounced auto-commit + push

8 * - Relationship merge with field-level resolution

9 * - Conflict resolution strategies

10 *

11 * Part of Phase 3 (state sync via git).

dist/commands/setup.jsView file

Lines 1-37javascript

1/**

2 * Interactive setup wizard — the one-line onboarding experience.

3 *

4 * `npx instar` or `instar setup` walks through everything:

5 * 1. Project detection + naming

6 * 2. Secret management (Bitwarden / local encrypted / manual)

7 * 3. Telegram setup (primary communication channel)

8 * 4. User setup (name, email, permissions)

9 * 5. Scheduler + first job (optional)

10 * 6. Start server

dist/core/PostUpdateMigrator.jsView file

•path = dist/core/PostUpdateMigrator.js kind = trigger_reachable_excluded_payload sizeBytes = 1378260 triggerReachableSource = dist/core/PostUpdateMigrator.js excludedPayload = .claude/hooks/free-text-guard.sh

Critical

Trigger Reachable Excluded Directory Payload

A package entrypoint or install-reachable source explicitly loads and activates an executable-looking payload from a test, fixture, or hidden path.

dist/core/PostUpdateMigrator.jsView on unpkg

•matchType = previous_version_dangerous_delta matchedPackage = instar@1.3.1376 matchedIdentity = npm:aW5zdGFy:1.3.1376 similarity = 0.992 summary = stored previous version shares package body but lacks this dangerous source file

Critical

Previous Version Dangerous Delta

This package version adds a dangerous source file absent from the previous stored version; route for source-aware review.

dist/core/PostUpdateMigrator.jsView on unpkg

•Manifest-trigger-reachable source links an external AI-agent control path to a behavior-bearing write operation. w); if (current.includes(anyrow) && start >= 0 && end > start) { current = current.replace(anyrow, subscription_signin_skill_content.slice(start, end) + anyrow); changes.push('three failure-table rows'); } } if (changes.length === 0) { if (!current.includes(marker) || !current.includes(rowsmarker)) { result.skipped.push('skills/subscription-signin/skill.md: customized — left untouched (no cross-machine section)'); } return; } fs.writefilesync(skillfile, current); result.upgraded.pus

scripts/run-contract-tests.jsView file

39try { L40: execSync('npx vitest run --config vitest.contract.config.ts', { L41: cwd: ROOT,

High

Runtime Package Install

Package source invokes a package manager install command at runtime.

scripts/run-contract-tests.jsView on unpkg · L39

.claude/hooks/free-text-guard.shView file

•path = .claude/hooks/free-text-guard.sh kind = payload_in_excluded_dir sizeBytes = 3888 magicHex = [redacted]

High

Payload In Excluded Dir

Package hides binary, compressed, or executable-looking payloads in test/fixture/hidden paths.

.claude/hooks/free-text-guard.shView on unpkg

•path = .claude/hooks/free-text-guard.sh kind = build_helper sizeBytes = 3888 magicHex = [redacted]

Medium

Ships Build Helper

Package ships non-JavaScript build or shell helper files.

.claude/hooks/free-text-guard.shView on unpkg

dist/commands/devPreflight.js#virtual:normalized:round1View file

•stage = ast_semantic_analysis; reason = ast_parse_error; limitedFiles = 86

High

Semantic Analysis Limited

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

dist/commands/devPreflight.js#virtual:normalized:round1View on unpkg

Source & flagged code

18 flagged · loading source

package.jsonView file

•scripts.postinstall = node scripts/fix-better-sqlite3.cjs

High

Install Time Lifecycle Scripts

Package defines install-time lifecycle scripts.

package.jsonView on unpkg

dist/threadline/PipeSessionSpawner.jsView file

15*/ L16: import { execSync } from 'node:child_process'; L17: import fs from 'node:fs';

High

Child Process

Package source references child process execution.

dist/threadline/PipeSessionSpawner.jsView on unpkg · L15

352// Spawn tmux session, recording its incarnation (session id + pane pid) L353: const created = execSync(`tmux new-session -d -P -F '#{session_id} #{pane_pid}' -s "${sessionName}" -x 200 -y 50 'bash -c "${shellCmd.replace(/"/g, '\\"')}"'`, { timeout: 10_000, e... L354: const [tmuxId, panePid] = created.split(' ');

High

Shell

Package source references shell execution.

Findings

4 Critical11 High6 Medium5 Low

CriticalPersistence Backdoordist/core/GitSync.js

CriticalTrigger Reachable Dangerous Capabilitydist/core/GitSync.js

CriticalTrigger Reachable Excluded Directory Payloaddist/core/PostUpdateMigrator.js

CriticalPrevious Version Dangerous Deltadist/core/PostUpdateMigrator.js

HighInstall Time Lifecycle Scriptspackage.json

HighChild Processdist/threadline/PipeSessionSpawner.js

HighShelldist/threadline/PipeSessionSpawner.js

HighSame File Env Network Executionskills/spec-converge/scripts/publish-spec-review.mjs

HighCredential Redirect Persistencedist/messaging/TelegramAdapter.js

HighSandbox Evasion Gated Capabilitydist/commands/setup.js

Affected versions and remediation

This report applies to instar@1.3.1378.

See all versions of instar for other recorded verdicts.

Review the evidence and your use of instar@1.3.1378 before allowing it. Restrict the permissions described in this report.
Choose an independently verified alternative or release. This report does not establish that other versions are safe.

Evidence last updated: 2026-10-21 12:00:52.491Z (UTC).

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

AI Security Review

Decision evidence

Source & flagged code

Source & flagged code

Findings

Affected versions and remediation

Runtime surface

Behavioral surface

Source & flagged code