Skills/npm/cli

cli@0.3.79

CAUTION· not started

Publisher claims: "Knowledge layer for AI agents - CLI, MCP server, and data layer" Observed in sandbox: no network, touches nothing outside the project, writes no memory.

Registry npm (MCP server)Publisher phren · publishing for 247 daysInstalls 12,211Last detonated 1 h ago
What would fix thisWatchDispute verdict

Coverage

Not started: dependency install failed; the server itself was not observed.
Tested
the dependency install step · every file read, file written and host contacted by what ran
Not tested
server startup · the tool list · tool behavior

What this means for the label: Caution here covers what ran. The server's tools were not exercised with a real credential, so nothing about their behavior is asserted; the credential summary below says what to do with that.

Before you give it your token

It will ask for
ANTHROPIC_API_KEYOPENAI_API_KEYPHREN_CONTEXT_TOKEN_BUDGETPHREN_MAX_INJECT_TOKENSConfiguration, not credentials: _PHREN_WALKTHROUGH_OLLAMA_SKIP, CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR, CODEX_HOME, ComSpec, COPILOT_HOME, DEFAULT_PHREN_PATH, GIT_CONFIG_GLOBAL, PHREN_APNS_CONFIG, PHREN_CLANKER, PHREN_CONTEXT_SNIPPET_CHARS, PHREN_CONTEXT_SNIPPET_LINES, PHREN_DEBUG, PHREN_DISPATCH_ID, PHREN_EMBEDDING_API_URL, PHREN_FEATURE_PROGRESSIVE_DISCLOSURE, PHREN_GH_ISSUE_LIMIT, PHREN_GH_PR_LIMIT, PHREN_GH_RETRIES, PHREN_GH_RUN_LIMIT, PHREN_GH_TIMEOUT_MS, PHREN_HOOK_TIMEOUT_MS, PHREN_HOOK_TOOL, PHREN_LLM_ENDPOINT, PHREN_MCP_PROFILE, PHREN_MEMORY_AUTO_ACCEPT, PHREN_MEMORY_EXTRACT_WINDOW_DAYS, PHREN_MEMORY_TTL_DAYS, PHREN_MIN_QUERY_RELEVANCE, PHREN_PATH, PHREN_PROFILE, PHREN_PULL_INTERVAL_SECONDS, PHREN_SLOW_FS_WARN_MS, PHREN_SUDO_TEST_PARENT, REMOTE_PATH, SCOPE_KEY_COMMENT, WSL_DISTRO_NAME
Where it talks to
no vendor host named in the codeAlso bunny.net, apple.com, ollama.com, jsdelivr.net — not the publisher's domain; check what for before connecting.
What the honeypot saw
no credential files read · no network
What we could not test
server startup · the tool list · tool behavior

Connect it with a scoped credential, under the guard, and read the third-party hosts first. The code names bunny.net, apple.com, ollama.com, jsdelivr.net as well as its own vendor. The guard injects ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, PHREN_CONTEXT_TOKEN_BUDGET, PHREN_MAX_INJECT_TOKENS only into requests to the host you bind (and its subdomains) and refuses the rest.

$vet-skills run --net declared -- npx -y @phren/cli

Never paste a credential into a chat, a ticket or a report, including ours. How the guard holds it.

What changed since 0.3.75

vet-skills diff cli 0.3.75 0.3.79

In the sandbox, this version reached for nothing 0.3.75 did not. Compared from the two recorded runs, not from source.

0.3.75 was not run in the sandbox (install failed); the comparison covers what static analysis recorded only.

The guard can hold an update like this until someone approves it (runtime.on_change: hold). A change that only shows with a real credential, or on a path the run did not reach, is not in a trace and so not in this comparison.

Is [email protected] safe to install?

KillerSkills ran it in the KillerSkills honeypot sandbox (2 scenarios; not started: dependency install failed; the server itself was not observed) on 2026-11-15 and scored it 75/100 (Caution). It is not known to be malicious, but it has behaviour or code a security policy should decide on before install. Notable findings: Privileged sudo command; Privileged sudo command; Privileged sudo command. Summary: no network, touches nothing outside the project, writes no memory.

Behavior trace

Honeypot run · 2 s · 2 scenarios · 0 deviations
t+CategoryObserved action
0.0sprocessno install scripts in bundle
2.3sprocessdependency install exit 1 · npm error code EUNSUPPORTEDPROTOCOL npm error Unsupported URL Type "workspace:": workspace:* npm error A complete log of this run can be found in: /tmp/ks-detonate-82Uzs8/task/home/.npm/_logs/2026-11-15T20_41_17_511Z-debug-0.log
2.3sclaimednot started: dependency install failed (exit 1); the server itself was not observed
2.3sprocessscript backend runs setup only
2.3sprocessno install scripts to re-run

Static findings

HIGH
Privileged sudo commanddist/bridge/push.js:48 · Privileged sudo command — agent may execute with elevated privileges/** A sudo request waiting for its password. The command is what the ownerFix: Build commands from fixed arguments; do not interpolate untrusted strings into a shell.
AST05
HIGH
Privileged sudo commanddist/bridge/sudo.js:17 · Privileged sudo command — agent may execute with elevated privileges* sudo with no terminal, answered from the phone.Fix: Build commands from fixed arguments; do not interpolate untrusted strings into a shell.
AST05
HIGH
Privileged sudo commanddist/bridge/push.js:55 · Privileged sudo command — agent may execute with elevated privilegesalert: { title: `sudo on ${value.computer}`, body: command },Fix: Build commands from fixed arguments; do not interpolate untrusted strings into a shell.
AST05
HIGH
Privileged sudo commanddist/bridge/pair.js:254 · Privileged sudo command — agent may execute with elevated privileges: "Start the SSH server, for example: sudo systemctl enable --now sshd";Fix: Build commands from fixed arguments; do not interpolate untrusted strings into a shell.
AST05
HIGH
Privileged sudo commanddist/bridge/sudo.js:19 · Privileged sudo command — agent may execute with elevated privileges* `sudo -A` runs `SUDO_ASKPASS` (`<bridge>/askpass`, a two-line script theFix: Build commands from fixed arguments; do not interpolate untrusted strings into a shell.
AST05
HIGH
Privileged sudo commanddist/bridge/sudo.js:25 · Privileged sudo command — agent may execute with elevated privileges* flags, its parent is the installed script, that script's parent is a sudoFix: Build commands from fixed arguments; do not interpolate untrusted strings into a shell.
AST05
HIGH
Access to sensitive file pathsdist/bridge/link.js:112 · Access to sensitive file paths — SSH keys, AWS credentials, env files, or system files// The address the Hook dials skips ~/.ssh/config, so resolve the alias the way ssh does.Fix: Stop enumerating or reading credential locations; take secrets from a declared environment variable the user sets on purpose.
AST05
HIGH
Privileged sudo commanddist/bridge/sudo.js:22 · Privileged sudo command — agent may execute with elevated privileges* agent.sock and holds the connection. The password must reach sudo and noFix: Build commands from fixed arguments; do not interpolate untrusted strings into a shell.
AST05
MEDIUM
File type combined with upload actiondist/bridge/pair.js:394 · File type combined with upload action — agent may exfiltrate local data filesconsole.log(`\n⚠ SSH isn't answering on this computer. ${sshHint()}\n Pairing can finish now; the phone connects once SSH is on.`);Fix: Remove the call, or declare the host in frontmatter and explain in the README what is sent and why.
AST07
HIGH
Privileged sudo commanddist/bridge/sudo.js:34 · Privileged sudo command — agent may execute with elevated privileges* process's pid gets nothing. (sudo creates askpass's stdout pipe as root,Fix: Build commands from fixed arguments; do not interpolate untrusted strings into a shell.
AST05
HIGH
Access to sensitive file pathsdist/bridge/link.js:65 · Access to sensitive file paths — SSH keys, AWS credentials, env files, or system files/** Hosts from ~/.ssh/config and the store's machines.yaml that answer over ssh,Fix: Stop enumerating or reading credential locations; take secrets from a declared environment variable the user sets on purpose.
AST05
HIGH
Access to sensitive file pathsdist/init/setup.js:323 · Access to sensitive file paths — SSH keys, AWS credentials, env files, or system filesconst envPath = path.join(repoRoot, ".env");Fix: Stop enumerating or reading credential locations; take secrets from a declared environment variable the user sets on purpose.
AST05
HIGH
Access to sensitive file pathsdist/hooks.js:914 · Access to sensitive file paths — SSH keys, AWS credentials, env files, or system filesconst mergedEnv = { ...process.env, PHREN_PATH: phrenPath, PHREN_HOOK_EVENT: event, ...env };Fix: Stop enumerating or reading credential locations; take secrets from a declared environment variable the user sets on purpose.
AST05
HIGH
Access to sensitive file pathsdist/init/setup.js:247 · Access to sensitive file paths — SSH keys, AWS credentials, env files, or system filescreated.push(`.env:PHREN_FEATURE_AUTO_CAPTURE=${autoCaptureDefault}`);Fix: Stop enumerating or reading credential locations; take secrets from a declared environment variable the user sets on purpose.
AST05
MEDIUM
File type combined with upload actiondist/bridge/pair.js:319 · File type combined with upload action — agent may exfiltrate local data files…edKey(scope, text); const fingerprint = await hostFingerprint(); console.log(`Authorized ${SCOPE_KEY_COMMENT[scope]} for ${scope}: ${scope === "gitboy-write" ? "POST /v1/projects/<project>/findings and tasks/complete only" : "GET /v1/proje…Fix: Remove the call, or declare the host in frontmatter and explain in the README what is sent and why.
AST07
HIGH
Access to sensitive file pathsdist/init/setup.js:234 · Access to sensitive file paths — SSH keys, AWS credentials, env files, or system filesconst envPath = path.join(phrenPath, ".env");Fix: Stop enumerating or reading credential locations; take secrets from a declared environment variable the user sets on purpose.
AST05
HIGH
Access to sensitive file pathsdist/init/init.js:234 · Access to sensitive file paths — SSH keys, AWS credentials, env files, or system files// Persist the walkthrough choice so init writes an explicit .env default.Fix: Stop enumerating or reading credential locations; take secrets from a declared environment variable the user sets on purpose.
AST05
HIGH
Access to sensitive file pathsdist/init/init.js:356 · Access to sensitive file paths — SSH keys, AWS credentials, env files, or system fileslog(` Would set PHREN_PATH in ${path.join(storageRepoRoot, ".env")}`);Fix: Stop enumerating or reading credential locations; take secrets from a declared environment variable the user sets on purpose.
AST05
LOW
Instructs the agent to modify its persistent memory or instruction filesdist/link/link.js:86 · Instructs the agent to modify its persistent memory or instruction files · informational: not an instruction filelog(` Run \`phren init --apply-starter-update\` to refresh global/AGENTS.md and global skills.`);Fix: Remove the text that addresses the agent rather than the reader; describe behavior, do not instruct.
AST01
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/hooks.d.ts:133 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted code* skip wrappers (hooks fall back to node/npx invocation).Fix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
LOW
Instructs the agent to modify its persistent memory or instruction filesdist/shell/view.js:76 · Instructs the agent to modify its persistent memory or instruction files · informational: not an instruction fileProjects: [`${k("↑↓")} ${d("move")}`, `${k("↵")} ${d("open")}`, `${k("e")} ${d("edit AGENTS.md")}`],Fix: Build commands from fixed arguments, never from interpolated strings; prefer an API client over shelling out.
AST01
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/status.js:60 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted codeconsole.log(`${RED}phren not found${RESET}. Run ${CYAN}npx @phren/cli init${RESET} to set up.`);Fix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
MEDIUM
File type combined with upload actiondist/status.js:425 · File type combined with upload action — agent may exfiltrate local data filesconsole.log(`\n ${BOLD}Health${RESET} ${DIM}(${health.computer.name})${RESET}`);Fix: Remove the call, or declare the host in frontmatter and explain in the README what is sent and why.
AST07
MEDIUM
File type combined with upload actiondist/ui/assets.js:2 · File type combined with upload action — agent may exfiltrate local data files…oadProjects() {\n fetch(authUrl('/api/projects')).then(function(r) { return r.json(); }).then(function(data) {\n _projectData = data;\n renderProjectCards(data);\n if (_selectedProject) {\n var cards = document.querySelectorAll('.project-c…Fix: Remove the call, or declare the host in frontmatter and explain in the README what is sent and why.
AST07
MEDIUM
File type combined with upload actiondist/cli/config.js:102 · File type combined with upload action — agent may exfiltrate local data filesconsole.log("Tips: '--project <name>' for a project's merged config, '--diff' for only customised values, '--json' for machine-readable output.\n");Fix: Remove the call, or declare the host in frontmatter and explain in the README what is sent and why.
AST07
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/hooks.js:220 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted codesessionStart: `npx -y ${packageSpec} hook-session-start`,Fix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/hooks.js:112 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted code* commands that resolve here must fall back to `npx -y <spec>` (whichFix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/hooks.js:162 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted code* (`npx -y @phren/cli …`), which cannot go stale, and for commands with noFix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/hooks.d.ts:14 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted code* self-healing fallback is fragile: npx prunes that cache and the `<hash>`Fix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/hooks.d.ts:12 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted code* True if a path lives inside an ephemeral npx download cacheFix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/init/setup.js:1017 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted codeok: true, // always pass — wrapper is optional (global install or npx work too)Fix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/init/setup.js:1020 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted code: `CLI wrapper not found (optional — use 'npx @phren/cli' instead)`,Fix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/hooks.js:110 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted code* self-healing fallback is fragile: npx prunes that cache and the `<hash>`Fix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/init/setup.js:475 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted code? "Hook entrypoint available via npx fallback"Fix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/init/setup.js:476 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted code: "Hook entrypoint missing and npx unavailable, hooks will fail";Fix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/hooks.d.ts:73 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted code* an ephemeral npx copy and the wrapper already runs a lasting entry that exists. */Fix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/init/setup.js:481 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted codefix: hookEntrypointOk ? undefined : "Rebuild phren: `npm run build` or reinstall the package, and ensure npm/npx is available for hook fallbacks",Fix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
LOW
Instructs the agent to modify its persistent memory or instruction filesdist/init/init.js:443 · Instructs the agent to modify its persistent memory or instruction files · informational: not an instruction filelog(` Run \`phren init --apply-starter-update\` to refresh global/AGENTS.md and global skills.`);Fix: Remove the text that addresses the agent rather than the reader; describe behavior, do not instruct.
AST01
MEDIUM
File type combined with upload actiondist/bridge/pair.js:410 · File type combined with upload action — agent may exfiltrate local data filesconsole.log(" In the Phren app: Agents → Add computer → Scan pairing code\n");Fix: Remove the call, or declare the host in frontmatter and explain in the README what is sent and why.
AST07
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/hooks.js:108 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted code* True if a path lives inside an ephemeral npx download cacheFix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06
MEDIUM
npx invocation of non-well-known packagedist/hooks.d.ts:16 · npx invocation of non-well-known package — may execute untrusted code* commands that resolve here must fall back to `npx -y <spec>` (whichFix: Pin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
AST06

Cost to the agent

Instructions loaded
≈49 tok
1 file · 81 in bundle
Tool list per prompt
≈0 tok
0 tools · 0 per tool
Handshake
no reply
launch to tools/list, stdio
Undocumented tools
0
description under 20 chars · avg 0

Tokens estimated at four characters each. The tool list is re-read by the agent on every turn, so it is the number to compare between servers that do the same job: ranked across the index.

Known vulnerabilities

Not checked against OSV yet; the weekly check has not reached this version.

What would make this Verified

5 points to 80 · weights: behavior 45%, static 25%, prompt 15%, publisher 15%
  1. Unclaimed publisher≈ +8 on the totalClaim phren: a verified publisher gets +50 on publisher trust. It is free and usually instant with GitHub sign-in.
  2. Privileged sudo command≈ +4 on the totalBuild commands from fixed arguments; do not interpolate untrusted strings into a shell.
  3. Access to sensitive file paths≈ +4 on the totalStop enumerating or reading credential locations; take secrets from a declared environment variable the user sets on purpose.
  4. File type combined with upload action≈ +2 on the totalRemove the call, or declare the host in frontmatter and explain in the README what is sent and why.
  5. npx invocation of non-well-known package≈ +2 on the totalPin versions and sources; vendor anything fetched at install time.
Publish a new version to npm, then queue it here. Not your skill? Claim the handle to get verdict changes by email.Claim phrenPropose a patch to the maintainer