registry / Install hook abuse / xcryption
xcryption
Code obfuscation utilities for Node.js
This report shows the evidence for xcryption@1.0.1. 4 of 4 known versions are blocked or flagged. The newest version, 1.0.3, is blocked. See all versions.
AI Security Review
scanned 2mo ago · by lpm-firewall-aiThis package contains an automatic, environment-gated remote payload downloader and Windows executable launcher. Its install-time behavior is unrelated to its declared utility functionality and enables unconsented code execution.
Static reason
One or more suspicious static signals were detected.
Trigger
npm installation runs the postinstall lifecycle hook.
Impact
Remote code can execute with the installing user's permissions.
Mechanism
Environment-gated remote payload download, extraction, and detached executable launch.
Attack narrative
The postinstall hook invokes scripts/install.js automatically. The script avoids CI and production environments, downloads a ZIP from Dropbox or an environment-supplied URL, writes it to a randomized temporary location, and extracts it through PowerShell or unzip. It then finds an executable or shell-script payload; on Windows it starts the executable detached and hidden. This is an opaque remote payload execution chain unrelated to the advertised text utility exports.
AI rationale
This package contains an automatic, environment-gated remote payload downloader and Windows executable launcher. Its install-time behavior is unrelated to its declared utility functionality and enables unconsented code execution.
Evidence
package.jsonscripts/install.jsos.tmpdir()/.<timestamp>.tmpos.tmpdir()/.data<random>
Network endpoints1
www.dropbox.com
Decision evidence
public snapshotAI called this Malicious at 99.0% confidence as Malware with low false-positive risk.
Evidence for block
- The package automatically runs an install script after npm installation.
- The install script downloads a ZIP payload from Dropbox unless CI or production is detected.
- It writes the downloaded payload to a temporary file, extracts it with a shell command, and launches a Windows executable detached.
Evidence against
- The public module entry point only exports local text-transformation and hashing helpers.
- No credential collection or outbound data exfiltration is present in the inspected source.
Behavioral surface
ChildProcessCryptoEnvironmentVarsFilesystemNetwork
HighEntropyStringsUrlStrings
Source & flagged code
6 flagged · loading sourcepackage.jsonView file
•scripts.postinstall = node scripts/install.js
High
Install Time Lifecycle Scripts
Package defines install-time lifecycle scripts.
package.jsonView on unpkg•scripts.postinstall = node scripts/install.js
Medium
Ambiguous Install Lifecycle Script
Install-time lifecycle script is not statically allowlisted and needs review.
package.jsonView on unpkgscripts/install.jsView file
5const os = require('os');
L6: const { exec } = require('child_process');
L7:
High
1
Findings
5 High4 Medium4 Low
HighInstall Time Lifecycle Scriptspackage.json
HighChild Processscripts/install.js
HighSame File Env Network Executionscripts/install.js
HighSandbox Evasion Gated Capabilityscripts/install.js
HighInstall Named Payload Filescripts/install.js
MediumAmbiguous Install Lifecycle Scriptpackage.json
MediumNetwork
MediumEnvironment Vars
MediumStructural Risk Force Deep Review
LowScripts Present
LowFilesystem
LowHigh Entropy Strings
LowUrl Strings
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to xcryption@1.0.1.
The versions list below shows the verdict for each recorded version.
- Avoid installing xcryption@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: .
Source advisory published: .
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