trace-mcp@3.36.5

⚠ Under review

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AI Security Review

scanned 11d ago · by lpm-firewall-ai

The inspected excerpts support ordinary benchmark and package-specific installer activity, with no concrete malicious behavior established. However, the evidence does not cover the required source behaviors and consent paths sufficiently to justify a clean verdict, so manual review is appropriate.

Static reason

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

Trigger

npm install invokes the declared postinstall chain.

Impact

No confirmed attack effect was established from the cited excerpts.

Mechanism

The cited package script runs native preflight and two postinstall scripts; no source excerpt establishes foreign agent configuration mutation or credential exfiltration.

AI rationale

Decision evidence

public snapshot

AI called this Manual Review at 48.0% confidence as Unknown with medium false-positive risk.

AI review observations

The package declares a postinstall chain that runs native preflight, app update, and control-plane setup scripts.
The two flagged bundles define paths under user agent directories; the inspected excerpts alone do not show writes or caller consent.
The flagged benchmark scripts read repository agent instruction files and Claude session logs as benchmark inputs.
The remaining required flagged scripts are named screenshot, upgrade, fixture, throughput, Windows update, documentation, and performance utilities.

Evidence against

The native preflight skips non-macOS, scans only package node_modules for .node files, and invokes codesign --verify.
The app postinstall describes checksum verification and Gatekeeper verification before replacing an eligible legacy application bundle.

Behavioral surface

Source

ChildProcessCryptoDynamicRequireEnvironmentVarsEvalFilesystemNativeBindingsNetworkShell

Source & flagged code

26 flagged

package.jsonView file

Lines 16-56json

16 "test": "vitest run",

17 "test:watch": "vitest",

18 "test:recall": "vitest run tests/recall-harness/recall.test.ts",

19 "test:recall:report": "tsx tests/recall-harness/runner.ts",

20 "eval:embeddings": "node scripts/embedding-eval/run.mjs",

21 "typecheck": "tsc --noEmit",

22 "lint": "tsc --noEmit",

23 "format": "biome format --write",

24 "format:check": "biome format",

25 "biome:ci": "biome ci",

26 "serve": "tsx src/cli.ts serve",

27 "check:remote-claims": "node scripts/check-remote-claims.mjs",

28 "count:tools": "node scripts/count-advertised-tools.mjs",

29 "record:wire-fixtures": "tsx scripts/record-wire-fixtures.ts",

30 "replay:check": "tsx scripts/replay-eval.ts",

31 "replay:update-baseline": "tsx scripts/replay-eval.ts --update-baseline",

32 "bench:state-replay": "tsx scripts/state-trace-replay.ts",

33 "bench:state-recall": "tsx scripts/bench-state-recall.ts",

34 "bench:index-throughput": "tsx scripts/bench-index-throughput.ts --json docs/perf/index-throughput.json",

35 "bench:session-scaling": "tsx scripts/bench-session-scaling.ts",

36 "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 · L36

Medium

Ambiguous Install Lifecycle Script

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

package.jsonView on unpkg · L36

37 "prepublishOnly": "pnpm run build",

38 "prepare": "simple-git-hooks",

39 "docs:sitemap": "node scripts/gen-sitemap.mjs && node scripts/gen-llms-full.mjs",

40 "docs:language-matrix": "tsx scripts/language-matrix.ts",

41 "docs:tools-index": "tsx scripts/tools-index.ts",

42 "docs:config-index": "tsx scripts/config-index.ts",

43 "gen:tz-country": "node scripts/gen-tz-country.mjs",

44 "geo:battery": "node scripts/geo-battery.mjs"

45 },

46 "simple-git-hooks": {

47 "pre-commit": "pnpm exec lint-staged"

48 },

49 "lint-staged": {

50 "*.{ts,tsx,js,jsx,mjs,cjs,json,jsonc,css}": [

51 "biome check --write --no-errors-on-unmatched"

52 ]

53 },

54 "engines": {

55 "node": ">=22.0.0"

56 },

dist/proxy.jsView file

27686// src/daemon/lifecycle.ts L27687: import { execSync, execFileSync as execFileSync2, spawn } from "child_process"; L27688: import fs14 from "fs";

High

Child Process

Package source references child process execution.

dist/proxy.jsView on unpkg · L27686

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.

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 = 11971 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 = 11385754 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 = 13384639 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/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/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

scripts/bench-pr-quality.tsView file

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = scripts/bench-pr-quality.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-pr-quality.tsView on unpkg

scripts/bench-response-tokens.tsView file

•matchType = normalized_sha256 matchedPackage = trace-mcp@3.25.1 matchedPath = scripts/bench-response-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-response-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

27686// src/daemon/lifecycle.ts L27687: import { execSync, execFileSync as execFileSync2, spawn } from "child_process"; L27688: import fs14 from "fs";

High

Child Process

Package source references child process execution.

dist/proxy.jsView on unpkg · L27686

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/verify-upgrade-path.mjs

Affected versions and remediation

This report applies to trace-mcp@3.36.5.

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

Review the evidence and your use of trace-mcp@3.36.5 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: 2026-10-11 21:41:44.655Z (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