registry / Persistence / trace-mcp / 3.31.4

trace-mcp@3.31.4

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AI Security Review

scanned 25d ago · by lpm-firewall-ai

Automatic installation-time persistence is a concrete lifecycle risk. The inspected source supports a warning, not a block, because the persistence is package-owned and no foreign agent configuration mutation or exfiltration was confirmed.

Static reason

One or more suspicious static signals were detected.; source matched previously finalized malicious package; routed for review

Trigger

npm postinstall execution.

Impact

The package can establish a persistent per-user daemon without a separate explicit command.

Mechanism

The hook writes ~/.trace launcher files and can write and bootstrap com.trace-mcp.server.plist.

AI rationale

Evidence

package.jsonscripts/postinstall-control-plane.mjs~/.trace/launcher.env~/.trace/bin/trace~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.trace-mcp.server.plist

Decision evidence

public snapshot

AI called this Suspicious at 90.0% confidence as Dangerous Capability with low false-positive risk.

Evidence for warning

The package declares an automatic postinstall chain.
That hook writes the package's launcher environment file and executable shim.
On macOS, the hook writes and bootstraps a per-user LaunchAgent.
The flagged proxy code only declares several agent-home paths in the inspected excerpt.
The session-log reader is a separately invoked benchmark script.

Evidence against

No inspected code showed credentials sent to an unrelated endpoint.
No inspected code showed a write to the declared Claude, Codex, Cursor, Windsurf, or Continue paths.

Behavioral surface

Source

ChildProcessCryptoDynamicRequireEnvironmentVarsEvalFilesystemNativeBindingsNetworkShellWebSocket

Supply chain

HighEntropyStringsUrlStrings

ManifestNo manifest risk signals triggered.

Source & flagged code

26 flagged

package.jsonView file

•scripts.postinstall = node scripts/preflight-native.mjs && node scripts/postinstall-app.mjs && node scripts/postinstall-control-plane.mjs

High

Install Time Lifecycle Scripts

Package defines install-time lifecycle scripts.

package.jsonView on unpkg

•scripts.postinstall = node scripts/preflight-native.mjs && node scripts/postinstall-app.mjs && node scripts/postinstall-control-plane.mjs

Medium

Ambiguous Install Lifecycle Script

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

package.jsonView on unpkg

dist/proxy.jsView file

27353// src/daemon/lifecycle.ts L27354: import { execSync, execFileSync as execFileSync2, spawn } from "child_process"; L27355: import fs11 from "fs";

High

Child Process

Package source references child process execution.

dist/proxy.jsView on unpkg · L27353

2474function hasPreloadFlags() { L2475: const execArgv = process.execArgv; L2476: for (let i = 0; i < execArgv.length; i++) {

High

Shell

Package source references shell execution.

dist/proxy.jsView on unpkg · L2474

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = dist/proxy.js matchedIdentity = npm:dHJhY2UtbWNw:3.25.1 similarity = 1.000 summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source

High

Known Malware Source Similarity

Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.

dist/proxy.jsView on unpkg

2import { createRequire as __tmcpCreateRequire } from 'node:module'; L3: const require = __tmcpCreateRequire(import.meta.url); L4: var __create = Object.create;

Medium

Dynamic Require

Package source references dynamic require/import behavior.

dist/proxy.jsView on unpkg · L2

1103for (var i = 0; i < flen; ) { L1104: if (f.charCodeAt(i) === 37 && i + 1 < flen) { L1105: lastPos = lastPos > -1 ? lastPos : 0; ... L1338: fsWriteSync = () => fs17.writeSync(this.fd, this._writingBuf); L1339: fsWrite = () => fs17.write(this.fd, this._writingBuf, this.release); L1340: } else if (contentMode === void 0 || contentMode === kContentModeUtf8) { ... L1903: L1904: // node_modules/.pnpm/thread-stream@4.0.0/node_modules/thread-stream/package.json L1905: var require_package = __commonJS({ ... L1943: type: "git", L1944: url: "git+https://github.com/mcollina/thread-stream.git" L1945: },

Medium

Install Persistence

Source writes installer persistence such as shell profile or service configuration.

dist/proxy.jsView on unpkg · L1103

scripts/capture-screenshots.mjs#virtual:normalized:round1View file

390// six grey placeholders is exactly the failure this pipeline exists to avoid. L391: const dashboard = `http://127.0.0.1:${DEMO_DAEMON_PORT}/api/dashboard`; L392: await fetch(`${dashboard}/refresh`, { method: "POST" }); ... L402: * The guard"s health comes from a heartbeat an attached agent session writes.\n * A capture has no agent, so without this the showcase screenshot ships a red\n * \"Not running\" ba... L403: * policy") — the window comes up blank. Assigning `location.href` inside the\n * document keeps the app's own file origin, exactly as the main process does.\n */\nasync function na... L404: return;

High

Same File Env Network Execution

A single source file combines environment access, network access, and code or shell execution; review context before blocking.

scripts/capture-screenshots.mjs#virtual:normalized:round1View on unpkg · L390

390// six grey placeholders is exactly the failure this pipeline exists to avoid. L391: const dashboard = `http://127.0.0.1:${DEMO_DAEMON_PORT}/api/dashboard`; L392: await fetch(`${dashboard}/refresh`, { method: "POST" }); ... L401: /** L402: * The guard"s health comes from a heartbeat an attached agent session writes.\n * A capture has no agent, so without this the showcase screenshot ships a red\n * \"Not running\" ba... L403: * policy") — the window comes up blank. Assigning `location.href` inside the\n * document keeps the app's own file origin, exactly as the main process does.\n */\nasync function na... L404: return;

High

Command Output Exfiltration

Source combines command execution, command-output handling, and outbound requests; review data flow before blocking.

scripts/capture-screenshots.mjs#virtual:normalized:round1View on unpkg · L390

scripts/verify-upgrade-path.mjsView file

25L26: import { execFileSync } from 'node:child_process'; L27: import fs from 'node:fs'; ... L34: L35: if (process.platform !== 'darwin') { L36: console.log('skip: macOS only'); ... L48: const repoRoot = path.resolve(new URL('..', import.meta.url).pathname); L49: const expected = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(repoRoot, 'package.json'), 'utf-8')).version; L50: ... L62: try { L63: const res = await fetch(`https://api.github.com/repos/${REPO}/releases?per_page=10`, { L64: headers: { 'User-Agent': 'trace-mcp' },

High

Sandbox Evasion Gated Capability

Source gates dangerous network, credential, or execution behavior behind CI, host, platform, time, or geo fingerprint checks.

scripts/verify-upgrade-path.mjsView on unpkg · L25

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = scripts/verify-upgrade-path.mjs matchedIdentity = npm:dHJhY2UtbWNw:3.25.1 similarity = 1.000 summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source

High

Known Malware Source Similarity

Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.

scripts/verify-upgrade-path.mjsView on unpkg

scripts/record-wire-fixtures.tsView file

20* Usage: L21: * npx tsx scripts/record-wire-fixtures.ts [--project <root>] [--port <port>] L22: * ... L25: */ L26: import { spawn } from 'node:child_process'; L27: import fs from 'node:fs';

High

Runtime Package Install

Package source invokes a package manager install command at runtime.

scripts/record-wire-fixtures.tsView on unpkg · L20

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = scripts/record-wire-fixtures.ts matchedIdentity = npm:dHJhY2UtbWNw:3.25.1 similarity = 1.000 summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source

High

Known Malware Source Similarity

Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.

scripts/record-wire-fixtures.tsView on unpkg

hooks/trace-mcp-reindex.shView file

•path = hooks/trace-mcp-reindex.sh kind = build_helper sizeBytes = 8298 magicHex = [redacted]

Medium

Ships Build Helper

Package ships non-JavaScript build or shell helper files.

hooks/trace-mcp-reindex.shView on unpkg

dist/snapshot-backend.jsView file

•path = dist/snapshot-backend.js kind = oversized_source_file sizeBytes = 11278919 magicHex = [redacted]

Medium

Oversized Source File

Package contains source files above the normal full-analysis size ceiling.

dist/snapshot-backend.jsView on unpkg

dist/cli.jsView file

•path = dist/cli.js kind = oversized_cli_entrypoint sizeBytes = 13134119 magicHex = [redacted]

Medium

Oversized Cli Entrypoint

Package contains an oversized executable-looking CLI entrypoint.

dist/cli.jsView on unpkg

scripts/bench-index-throughput.ts#virtual:normalized:round1View file

•stage = ast_semantic_analysis; reason = ast_parse_error; limitedFiles = 9

High

Semantic Analysis Limited

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

scripts/bench-index-throughput.ts#virtual:normalized:round1View on unpkg

scripts/capture-screenshots.mjsView file

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = scripts/capture-screenshots.mjs matchedIdentity = npm:dHJhY2UtbWNw:3.25.1 similarity = 1.000 summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source

High

Known Malware Source Similarity

Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.

scripts/capture-screenshots.mjsView on unpkg

scripts/postinstall-app.mjsView file

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = scripts/postinstall-app.mjs matchedIdentity = npm:dHJhY2UtbWNw:3.25.1 similarity = 1.000 summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source

High

Known Malware Source Similarity

Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.

scripts/postinstall-app.mjsView on unpkg

scripts/verify-win-update.mjsView file

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = scripts/verify-win-update.mjs matchedIdentity = npm:dHJhY2UtbWNw:3.25.1 similarity = 1.000 summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source

High

Known Malware Source Similarity

Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.

scripts/verify-win-update.mjsView on unpkg

scripts/bench-session-scaling.tsView file

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = scripts/bench-session-scaling.ts matchedIdentity = npm:dHJhY2UtbWNw:3.25.1 similarity = 1.000 summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source

High

Known Malware Source Similarity

Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.

scripts/bench-session-scaling.tsView on unpkg

scripts/gen-readme-banner.mjsView file

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = scripts/gen-readme-banner.mjs matchedIdentity = npm:dHJhY2UtbWNw:3.25.1 similarity = 1.000 summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source

High

Known Malware Source Similarity

Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.

scripts/gen-readme-banner.mjsView on unpkg

scripts/gen-sitemap.mjsView file

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = scripts/gen-sitemap.mjs matchedIdentity = npm:dHJhY2UtbWNw:3.25.1 similarity = 1.000 summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source

High

Known Malware Source Similarity

Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.

scripts/gen-sitemap.mjsView on unpkg

scripts/perf/daemon-query-alloc.mjsView file

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = scripts/perf/daemon-query-alloc.mjs matchedIdentity = npm:dHJhY2UtbWNw:3.25.1 similarity = 1.000 summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source

High

Known Malware Source Similarity

Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.

scripts/perf/daemon-query-alloc.mjsView on unpkg

scripts/perf/daemon-serving-rss.mjsView file

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = scripts/perf/daemon-serving-rss.mjs matchedIdentity = npm:dHJhY2UtbWNw:3.25.1 similarity = 1.000 summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source

High

Known Malware Source Similarity

Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.

scripts/perf/daemon-serving-rss.mjsView on unpkg

scripts/bench-name-tokens.tsView file

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = scripts/bench-name-tokens.ts matchedIdentity = npm:dHJhY2UtbWNw:3.25.1 similarity = 1.000 summary = normalized source hash matched finalized malicious source

High

Known Malware Source Similarity

Source file is highly similar to a previously finalized malicious package; route for source-aware review.

scripts/bench-name-tokens.tsView on unpkg

Source & flagged code

26 flagged · loading source

package.jsonView file

•scripts.postinstall = node scripts/preflight-native.mjs && node scripts/postinstall-app.mjs && node scripts/postinstall-control-plane.mjs

High

Install Time Lifecycle Scripts

Package defines install-time lifecycle scripts.

package.jsonView on unpkg

•scripts.postinstall = node scripts/preflight-native.mjs && node scripts/postinstall-app.mjs && node scripts/postinstall-control-plane.mjs

Medium

Ambiguous Install Lifecycle Script

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

package.jsonView on unpkg

dist/proxy.jsView file

27353// src/daemon/lifecycle.ts L27354: import { execSync, execFileSync as execFileSync2, spawn } from "child_process"; L27355: import fs11 from "fs";

High

Child Process

Package source references child process execution.

dist/proxy.jsView on unpkg · L27353

Findings

20 High9 Medium6 Low

HighInstall Time Lifecycle Scriptspackage.json

HighChild Processdist/proxy.js

HighShelldist/proxy.js

HighSame File Env Network Executionscripts/capture-screenshots.mjs#virtual:normalized:round1

HighCommand Output Exfiltrationscripts/capture-screenshots.mjs#virtual:normalized:round1

HighSandbox Evasion Gated Capabilityscripts/verify-upgrade-path.mjs

HighRuntime Package Installscripts/record-wire-fixtures.ts

HighSemantic Analysis Limitedscripts/bench-index-throughput.ts#virtual:normalized:round1

HighKnown Malware Source Similarityscripts/capture-screenshots.mjs

HighKnown Malware Source Similarityscripts/postinstall-app.mjs

High

Affected versions and remediation

This report applies to trace-mcp@3.31.4.

See all versions of trace-mcp for other recorded verdicts.

Review the evidence and your use of trace-mcp@3.31.4 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: 2026-09-27 23:26:21.624Z (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