package being detected as a virus

[aviramha]

Note from the maintainer:

This package conditionally displays a friendly message when installed via npm.

The message appears only if the computer's locale timezone is set to one of the Russian timezones and politely advises users to seek reliable sources of truth regarding the war in Ukraine. The message is short and concise.

Note that it is not uncommon for npm packages to print some information upon installation. Hundreds of packages on npm do this: https://github.com/search?q=%22%5C%22postinstall%5C%22%22+language:json&type=code. Are they reported by any anti-virus software?

This post-install logic is not part of the package's core functionality. It does not affect how the package operates when used. If you rely on a prepackaged product that depends on this package, this logic is not included in your product.

At worst, this behavior could be considered protestware, but labeling it as dangerous to users is simply incorrect. If any anti-virus software flags this behavior, please report it to them, as this is a bug on their side that unnecessarily complicates your experience.

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Original post:

We updated our version of es5-ext and faced an error when publishing to VS Code marketplace when they ran anti virus scan.
Checking it offline, we found out that VirusTotal started detecting the version with the manifest as a virus, hence forcing us to stay with last version before manifest.

I don't wish to get into the politics and decision - I believe this is entirely up to the package creator and maintainer to decide as it's their software, but opening this as a FYI.

[medikoo]

@aviramha there's no virus in this package. Please report the issue to the VS Code.

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Added later:

I'll be happy to report this issue to any anti-virus or security service, yet I need precise instructions from you on where I can do it?

I'm not aware of any reports on my own (my work and my personal digital life are not affected by it).

Please post instructions as comments in this thread. Thank you!

[aviramha]

I know there's no virus. It's also not VS Code probably as more than 1 anti viruses detect it s a virus. I'd assume contacting each anti virus but I'm really pessimistic about Kaspersky not tagging this as a virus.

[aviramha]

We emailed the marketplace team BTW, but given past experience, as written before I wouldn't hold my breath.

[medikoo]

@aviramha thanks for emailing them.

AFAIK it's Kaspersky (Russian anti-virus) that does this kind of thing, but it's also discouraged to rely on this antivirus now (many sources warn against using it). So I guess VS Code might have fallen in to trap of relying on it (or on the antivirus that uses its database).

They really should fix it.

[Rush]

The problem is that this package is doing more than it advertises. It not only extends es5 with extra methods and shims, it also implements a "Call for peace" message. I think it's an unacceptable practice that slows done installation process.

https://github.com/medikoo/es5-ext/blob/main/_postinstall.js

I discovered it as yarn started printing that es5-ext is "building" while in fact it's processing the anti-war script.

Send more weapons to Ukraine and beat the Ruskis but do not pollute my dev environment. And I am saying this with a complete recognition that Russia is the warmonger.

[Rush]

So the real reason this is a virus is that it's doing needless postinstall actions that depend on the location of the user. What next? If somebody is in Russia, maybe delete all of their files? How much more evil do Ruskis need to do for this to become OK?

[medikoo]

@Rush this package will never do more, than showing a simple message (manifest) if some installs it in Russia. Reasoning for that was elaborated extensively at #116, so let's not dive into unconstructive discussions here, this is not in the scope of this issue.

[andrey-helldar]

Kaspersky Anti-Virus also detects the package as a virus:

Event: Object deleted
Program name: node.exe
Program path: C:\Users\Helldar\AppData\Local\nvs\node\16.16.0\x64
Component: File Anti-Virus
Result Description: Removed
Type: Program that can harm
Name: Hoax.JS.ExtMsg.a
Accuracy: Precise
Threat Level: Medium
Object type: File
Object name: _postinstall.js
Object Path: D:\domains\volunteers\web\node_modules\es5-ext
MD5: CF2BB0D501167A2D3A0764227C3D7E16

Original:

Событие: Объект удален
Имя программы: node.exe
Путь к программе: C:\Users\Helldar\AppData\Local\nvs\node\16.16.0\x64
Компонент: Файловый Антивирус
Описание результата: Удалено
Тип: Программа, которая может нанести вред
Название: Hoax.JS.ExtMsg.a
Точность: Точно
Степень угрозы: Средняя
Тип объекта: Файл
Имя объекта: _postinstall.js
Путь к объекту: D:\domains\volunteers\web\node_modules\es5-ext
MD5: CF2BB0D501167A2D3A0764227C3D7E16

I think it's because of this text: https://github.com/medikoo/es5-ext/blob/main/_postinstall.js#L31-L72

Released in 0.10.54: 28de285

[medikoo]

@andrey-helldar yes, Kaspersky is Russian-based and no longer a credible anti-virus resource.

There's widespread advice to not rely on it anymore (e.g. https://www.komando.com/security-privacy/kaspersky-antivirus-dangers/830542/).

So if you're affected by the fact that Kaspersky reports this package, ensure to not rely on Kaspersky in the first place.

[medikoo]

Note that I will delete any off-topic responses.

The topic here is that some anti-virus software (such as Kaspersky) are reporting as if the package is containing a "virus" which is not the case. This package, in certain scenarios, just prints a short message on installation.

Respond only if you have information on other anti-virus software that reports it, or have success stories on removing dependency on that specific anti-virus software.