OpenSSF/OSV advisory MAL-2026-14216 confirms this npm version as malicious. package.json declares `postinstall: node apps`, which loads apps/index.js. The script reads a bundled file, decrypts it with hardcoded DES key 'bf497c0b9cee' (CryptoJS.DES.decrypt), and pipes the resulting plaintext into the stdin of a detached `spawn('node', [], { detached: true, stdio: ['pipe','ignore','ignore'] })` process...
Source
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV
Summary
Malicious code in timed-assess (npm)
Details
package.json declares `postinstall: node apps`, which loads apps/index.js. The script reads a bundled file, decrypts it with hardcoded DES key 'bf497c0b9cee' (CryptoJS.DES.decrypt), and pipes the resulting plaintext into the stdin of a detached `spawn('node', [], { detached: true, stdio: ['pipe','ignore','ignore'] })` process. Identifiers such as `readLogoIco` and `rsa_exec` and log strings like 'ThetaSDK initialization error' are mislabeled and unrelated to the code's actual behavior of running arbitrary JavaScript. The detached stdio-ignore configuration suppresses output from the installer. This chain executes attacker-controlled JavaScript on the installer's host automatically on `npm install`.
Decision reason
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV confirms timed-assess@1.0.1 as malicious (MAL-2026-14216): Malicious code in timed-assess (npm)