psyclaw@0.29.16
A standalone, evidence-grounded social-science research agent with research contracts, evidence gates, and recoverable workflows
AI Security Review
scanned 2mo ago · by lpm-firewall-aiThe package is not shown to be malware, but its normal CLI path modifies an agent runtime and registers extensions. This warrants a warning for agent-extension lifecycle risk rather than a publish block.
Static reason
No blocking static signals were detected.; source matched previously finalized malicious package; routed for review
Trigger
The user runs the psyclaw CLI or loads its Pi extensions.
Impact
It can alter the bundled agent's interface, settings defaults, and exposed commands.
Mechanism
Runtime patching of the bundled Pi agent and extension registration.
AI rationale
The package is not shown to be malware, but its normal CLI path modifies an agent runtime and registers extensions. This warrants a warning for agent-extension lifecycle risk rather than a publish block.
Evidence
scripts/psyclaw.mjsscripts/rebrand-pi.mjspackage.jsonnode_modules/@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent/package.jsonnode_modules/@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent/dist/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.jsnode_modules/@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent/dist/core/settings-manager.jsnode_modules/@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent/dist/core/slash-commands.js
Decision evidence
public snapshotAI called this Suspicious at 89.0% confidence as Dangerous Capability with medium false-positive risk.
Evidence for warning
- The CLI runs a runtime rebranding routine before loading the main program.
- That routine rewrites selected files in its bundled coding-agent runtime and hides underlying login commands.
- The package declares Pi extensions, creating an agent-extension control surface.
- The flagged MCP code requires enabled, trusted configuration before discovery.
- The flagged Python file is a pytest fixture module, not an executable payload.
Evidence against
- There is no preinstall, install, or postinstall lifecycle hook.
- No self-dependency is declared.
- No credential harvesting or unconsented network exfiltration was found.
- The runtime mutation is user-invoked and targets the package's bundled Pi dependency.
Behavioral surface
ChildProcessCryptoDynamicRequireEnvironmentVarsFilesystemNetworkShell
HighEntropyStringsProtestware
Source & flagged code
6 flaggeddist/src/network-routing.jsView file
170const managerUrl = new URL("./utils/tools-manager.js", entryHref);
L171: const manager = await import(managerUrl.href);
L172: const failures = [];
Medium
Dynamic Require
Package source references dynamic require/import behavior.
dist/src/network-routing.jsView on unpkg · L170vendor/windows/x64/fd.exeView file
•path = vendor/windows/x64/fd.exe
kind = native_binary
sizeBytes = 4104192
magicHex = [redacted]
Medium
vendor/ars/tools/release-discipline/scripts/sync-toolkit.shView file
Findings
3 High7 Medium5 Low
HighPayload In Excluded Dirvendor/ars/scripts/adapters/tests/conftest.py
HighSemantic Analysis Limiteddist/src/tui/app.js#virtual:normalized:round1
HighKnown Malware Source Similaritydist/src/integrations/mcp.js
MediumDynamic Requiredist/src/network-routing.js
MediumNetwork
MediumEnvironment Vars
MediumProtestware
MediumShips Native Binaryvendor/windows/x64/fd.exe
MediumShips Build Helpervendor/ars/tools/release-discipline/scripts/sync-toolkit.sh
MediumStructural Risk Force Deep Review
LowNon Install Lifecycle Scripts
LowScripts Present
LowFilesystem
Low
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to psyclaw@0.29.16.
See all versions of psyclaw for other recorded verdicts.
- Review the evidence and your use of psyclaw@0.29.16 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: .
Think this verdict is wrong? Dispute it on GitHub or read how reports are produced.