registry / Staged payload carrier / timed-assess

timed-assess

`timed-assess` is a Node.js module for proctoring technical assessments. It provides session time-tracking and AI-generated content detection to help evaluators detect cheating or misuse during coding tests.

This report shows the evidence for timed-assess@1.0.1. 2 of 4 known versions are blocked or flagged. The newest version, 0.0.1-security, is allowed. See all versions.

AI Security Review

scanned 2mo ago · by lpm-firewall-ai

The install-time decryption and detached execution chain is concrete arbitrary-code execution behavior, not a benign static primitive. Absence of the staged file does not neutralize the malicious loader.

Static reason

High-risk behavior combination matched malicious policy.

Trigger

npm install runs the postinstall lifecycle hook.

Impact

Arbitrary JavaScript supplied by the decrypted file can execute during installation.

Mechanism

decrypt-and-execute detached Node payload loader

Attack narrative

Installing the package triggers `node apps`. Its entry script reads a file masquerading as a logo from a path outside its source directory, decrypts it, and supplies the plaintext to a detached Node process. The package contains no corresponding legitimate implementation for its advertised API, while the payload itself is absent from the inspected package, consistent with a staged loader.

AI rationale

Evidence

package.jsonapps/index.js

Decision evidence

public snapshot

AI called this Malicious at 98.0% confidence as Malware with low false-positive risk.

Evidence for block

Install runs `node apps` via postinstall.
The lifecycle loader reads an obfuscated file path outside its source directory.
It DES-decrypts that content then pipes it to a detached Node process.
No declared package API implementation matches the README's advertised API.

Evidence against

No network endpoint or credential-harvesting code was found in inspected source.
The encrypted payload file is not present within this package directory.

Behavioral surface

Source

ChildProcessFilesystemShell

Supply chain

UrlStrings

Manifest

NoLicense

scanned 14 file(s), 12.2 KB of source, external domains: nextjs.org, vercel.com

Source & flagged code

5 flagged

package.jsonView file

•scripts.postinstall = node apps

High

Install Time Lifecycle Scripts

Package defines install-time lifecycle scripts.

package.jsonView on unpkg

4"scripts": { "build": "turbo build", "dev": "turbo dev", "lint": "turbo lint", "format": "prettier --write \"**/*.{ts,tsx,md}\"", "postinstall": "node apps" }

High

Suspicious Lifecycle Evidence

Install runs `node apps` via postinstall.

package.jsonView on unpkg · L4

•scripts.postinstall = node apps

Medium

Ambiguous Install Lifecycle Script

Install-time lifecycle script is not statically allowlisted and needs review.

package.jsonView on unpkg

apps/index.jsView file

35const rsa_exec = spawn('node', [], { L36: detached: true, L37: stdio: ['pipe', 'ignore', 'ignore'],

Critical

Encoded Package Runner Execution

Source decodes numeric character arrays into a child-process package-runner command and executes it.

apps/index.jsView on unpkg · L35

9patternName = generic_password severity = medium line = 9 matchedText = const pa...ee';

Medium

Secret Pattern

Package contains a possible secret pattern.

apps/index.jsView on unpkg · L9

Source & flagged code

5 flagged · loading source

package.jsonView file

•scripts.postinstall = node apps

High

Install Time Lifecycle Scripts

Package defines install-time lifecycle scripts.

package.jsonView on unpkg

4"scripts": { "build": "turbo build", "dev": "turbo dev", "lint": "turbo lint", "format": "prettier --write \"**/*.{ts,tsx,md}\"", "postinstall": "node apps" }

High

Suspicious Lifecycle Evidence

Install runs `node apps` via postinstall.

package.jsonView on unpkg · L4

•scripts.postinstall = node apps

Medium

Ambiguous Install Lifecycle Script

Install-time lifecycle script is not statically allowlisted and needs review.

package.jsonView on unpkg

apps/index.jsView file

Findings

1 Critical2 High3 Medium4 Low

CriticalEncoded Package Runner Executionapps/index.js

HighInstall Time Lifecycle Scriptspackage.json

HighSuspicious Lifecycle Evidencepackage.json

MediumAmbiguous Install Lifecycle Scriptpackage.json

MediumSecret Patternapps/index.js

MediumStructural Risk Force Deep Review

LowScripts Present

LowFilesystem

LowUrl Strings

LowNo License

Affected versions and remediation

This report applies to timed-assess@1.0.1.

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

Avoid installing timed-assess@1.0.1. 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: 2026-08-20 14:30:11.532Z (UTC).

Source advisory published: 2026-08-19 02:51:35.000Z (UTC).

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

Versions

4 known versions

0.0.1-securitylatestClean—AllowPublishedAug 20, 2026, 2:22 PM 1.0.2SuspiciousStaged Payload CarrierWarnPublishedAug 18, 2026, 7:31 PM 1.0.1shownMaliciousStaged Payload CarrierBlockPublishedAug 18, 2026, 7:16 PM 1.0.0MaliciousMalwareBlockPublishedAug 18, 2026, 6:59 PM

AI Security Review

Decision evidence

Source & flagged code

Source & flagged code

Findings

Affected versions and remediation

Versions

Related packages

Other staged payload carrier packages

Behavioral surface

Source & flagged code

Related packages

Other staged payload carrier packages