Loading story…
Three malicious npm packages—bitcoin-main-lib, bitcoin-lib-js, and bip40—were discovered on the public npm registry, targeting JavaScript developers by masquerading as legitimate bitcoinjs project components. These packages, uploaded by a user named "wenmoonx," delivered a previously undocumented remote access trojan (RAT) dubbed NodeCordRAT. The infection chain began when developers installed either bitcoin-main-lib or bitcoin-lib-js, which executed a post-install script to fetch and install bip40, the package containing the actual malware payload. Once active, NodeCordRAT enabled attackers to steal browser credentials, API keys, and cryptocurrency wallet data, particularly targeting Chrome login databases, .env files, and MetaMask wallet information.
NodeCordRAT is written in Node.js and uses Discord as its command-and-control (C2) channel, allowing attackers to remotely execute shell commands, take screenshots, and exfiltrate files from compromised developer systems. The malware is cross-platform, capable of fingerprinting infected hosts on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and uses Discord's API for covert data exfiltration. The campaign was identified by Zscaler ThreatLabz in November 2025, and all three malicious packages have since been removed from the npm registry. The attack highlights the ongoing risk of supply chain threats in open-source ecosystems, especially for developers handling sensitive credentials and production access.
Trace attribution and downstream blast radius.
4 events from the most recent confirmed update back to the earliest known activity.
Multiple security outlets reported Zscaler ThreatLabz's findings, publicly detailing the malicious packages, their Discord-based control mechanism, and the risks posed to developers and organizations using open-source dependencies.
By November 2025, the three identified packages had been taken down from the npm registry following their discovery. Reports noted that the packages may already have been downloaded thousands of times before removal.
In November 2025, Zscaler ThreatLabz identified the three malicious npm packages as delivering a new cross-platform remote access trojan called NodeCordRAT via postinstall scripts. The malware enabled command execution, screenshot capture, file theft, and exfiltration of Chrome credentials, API tokens, and cryptocurrency wallet seed phrases through a hard-coded Discord-based command-and-control channel.
Threat actors uploaded three npm packages—bitcoin-main-lib, bitcoin-lib-js, and bip40—under the user name "wenmoonx" to impersonate legitimate bitcoinjs-related projects and target developers, particularly in the cryptocurrency sector.
Vulnerabilities, threat actors, malware, products, organizations, and breaches Mallory has linked to this story.
See attribution and downstream blast radius, and whether this package or vendor reaches your builds.
3 references tracked. Mallory keeps watching after this page renders.
cybersecuritynews.com
Open sourcethehackernews.com
Open sourcehackread.com
Open sourceMap indicators from this story to your assets and identify affected systems in minutes.
Every observed campaign, victim, and pivot linked to actors named in this story.
Malware, exploits, and IOCs connected to the activity described here.
YARA, Sigma, and Snort rules deployed to your SIEM as soon as they’re published.
Get matching new stories delivered to your team as they break — not the next morning.
Ask questions about this story and take action on the answers.
Other stories Mallory is tracking that overlap on entities, sources, or topic labels.
Researchers reported a broad software supply chain campaign targeting developers and cryptocurrency users through hijacked packages, browser extensions, and compromised maintainer accounts across ecosystems including **npm**, **Go**, **Chrome**, and **Packagist**. Socket linked the activity to North Korean actors associated with the **Contagious Interview** operation and identified 108 malicious packages and extensions spanning 162 release artifacts, while JFrog separately analyzed hijacked npm packages `html-to-gutenberg` `4.2.11` and `fetch-page-assets` `1.2.9` that were uploaded with malicious code. The activity appears to rely on account hijacking rather than compromise of GitHub itself, and some attacker infrastructure reportedly remains active even after certain packages were removed. The malware chain used unusual delivery and evasion techniques aimed at developer workstations, including a **VS Code folder-open task** instead of standard npm lifecycle scripts, JavaScript hidden in a fake font file, and encrypted payload retrieval from blockchain transaction data on **TRON**, **Aptos**, and **BNB Smart Chain**. Researchers said the campaign deployed components including **BeaverTail**, **DEV#POPPER RAT**, **OmniStealer**, a `socket.io` backdoor, and a Python infostealer to steal browser credentials, password-manager contents, cryptocurrency wallet data, developer secrets, and operating system credential-store material across **Windows**, **macOS**, and **Linux**. Security firms warned that affected developer systems and credentials should be treated as fully compromised.
Aug 3, 2026
Security researchers have uncovered multiple campaigns involving malicious npm packages designed to steal developer credentials and sensitive information from Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. In one operation, ten typosquatted packages impersonated popular libraries such as TypeScript, discord.js, ethers.js, and others, using sophisticated obfuscation, fake CAPTCHA prompts, and postinstall hooks to deploy an information stealer that harvested credentials from system keyrings, browsers, and authentication services. The malware executed in a new terminal window to evade detection and sent stolen data, including IP addresses, to external servers. Another large-scale campaign, dubbed 'PhantomRaven,' involved 126 npm packages and over 86,000 downloads, targeting authentication tokens, CI/CD secrets, and GitHub credentials. These packages leveraged remote dynamic dependencies to fetch and execute payloads during installation, profiling infected devices and exfiltrating secrets for potential supply chain attacks. The attackers employed techniques such as slopsquatting, where AI-generated package recommendations led developers to install non-existent, malicious packages. Some packages impersonated tools from GitLab and Apache, and many remained available on npm at the time of reporting. The campaigns highlight the ongoing risks in the npm ecosystem, with attackers exploiting both user trust and platform weaknesses to compromise developer environments and CI/CD pipelines. Security experts warn that the theft of tokens and credentials could enable further attacks, including the introduction of malicious code into legitimate projects and broader supply chain compromises.
Jun 29, 2026
A series of sophisticated supply chain attacks have targeted the NPM ecosystem, compromising both widely used and niche packages to deliver malicious payloads. The "Shai-Hulud" campaign has infected at least 187 NPM packages, including the highly popular tinycolor package, which receives approximately 2 million downloads weekly. Attackers in this campaign modify package manifests, inject malicious files, and republish the compromised packages, resulting in downstream projects unknowingly incorporating malicious code. The worm-like nature of the attack allows it to spread rapidly to other maintainers' packages, amplifying the impact across the software supply chain. Delayed detection of these compromises increases the risk, as many projects may already be affected before the breach is discovered. The attack highlights the critical importance of verifying package signatures and maintaining a robust software bill of materials (SBOM) to trace dependencies and versions accurately. In a related but distinct campaign, a threat actor using the NPM account "ongtrieuhau861.001" has published at least 94 malicious packages, many of which are specifically crafted to target Asian banks. These packages, often named with the pattern "dhhdbankxxxxx" and similar variants, deliver a JavaScript-based Remote Access Trojan (RAT) dubbed "DHSollutionsBot." This RAT leverages Firebase Realtime Database for command and control, while exfiltrating stolen data through Discord webhooks, making detection more challenging due to the use of legitimate cloud services. The threat actor's NPM account history suggests either a long-term operation or the acquisition of an existing account for malicious purposes. The attack architecture is notable for its simplicity and effectiveness, combining two legitimate platforms for resilient and stealthy C2 operations. Both campaigns underscore the growing threat of supply chain attacks in the open-source ecosystem, where a single compromised package can have cascading effects on countless downstream projects. Developers and organizations are urged to implement cryptographic signing of packages, verify signatures before use, and maintain detailed SBOMs to mitigate the risk of such attacks. The incidents also demonstrate the need for continuous monitoring of package repositories and automated detection tools to identify and respond to malicious activity promptly. The use of trusted platforms like Discord and Firebase for C2 communications further complicates detection and response efforts. These attacks serve as a stark reminder that even well-established codebases can become vectors for compromise if their dependencies are not rigorously vetted and monitored. The campaigns have prompted renewed calls for improved security practices in the software development lifecycle, particularly in the management of third-party dependencies. Organizations are advised to review their exposure to affected NPM packages and take immediate remediation steps where necessary. The incidents highlight the evolving tactics of threat actors in targeting the software supply chain and the critical need for industry-wide vigilance.
Jul 12, 2026