# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Avoiding exec(base64.b64decode(...)) patterns flagged by EDR tools

## Open now

- 1 issue, 1 PR open on GitHub.
- #122463: \[Bug\]: EDR flags exec(base64.b64decode(...)) as Metasploit — SentinelOne alert on hermes_cli/_launchers.py (same pattern in tools/file_operations.py)
- PR #139927: fix(security): stop shipping exec(base64.b64decode(...)) commands (#122463)

The members concern the exec(base64.b64decode(...)) pattern in commands generated by the project, including a bug report of a SentinelOne alert on hermes_cli/_launchers.py and a similar pattern in tools/file_operations.py. Two titles are security fixes aimed at no longer shipping or emitting such commands.

## TL;DR

- 3 member(s): 1 open issue(s), 0 closed issue(s), 1 open PR(s), 0 merged PR(s), 1 PR(s) closed without merging.
- No fix has been merged to main; one or more PRs were attempted (see below).
- **Recommended:** review the prior/competing PR(s) below. A fix was attempted but not merged; your case may extend or revive that work.

## Maintainer resolution verdict

- Internal-tracker verdict over this cluster's issue members: `unresolved`. This is distinct from the fix status above. Weigh it yourself.

## How this cluster was grouped

- Link evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.
- Pairwise link density `0.67`: the share of member pairs that carry a link, counting a structural link in full and a relevance-only link at 0.36. `1.00` means every pair is linked.

## Open related issues

- #122463: \[Bug\]: EDR flags exec(base64.b64decode(...)) as Metasploit — SentinelOne alert on hermes_cli/_launchers.py (same pattern in tools/file_operations.py)

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#122479: fix(security): stop emitting exec(base64.b64decode(...)) commands**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `implemented_elsewhere`; implication `superseded`; refs `#139927`
- **#139927: fix(security): stop shipping exec(base64.b64decode(...)) commands (#122463)**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `implemented_elsewhere`; implication `superseded`; refs `848fc0ad8b`
  - files: `gateway/status.py`, `gateway/status_inline_source.py`, `hermes_cli/_launchers.py`, `hermes_cli/update_cmd_windows.py`, `tests-js/scripts/desktop-smoke-process.ts`, `tests-js/scripts/desktop-smoke.test.ts`, `tests/gateway/test_gateway_inline_bootstrap_identity.py`, `tests/hermes_cli/test_launcher_cmd_no_exec_b64.py`, `tests/tools/test_exec_python_snippet.py`, `tools/file_operations.py`

## Fix status

- No merged fix on record.
- Subsystem: `hermes_cli`