{"id":"MAL-2026-6422","summary":"Malicious code in leo-config (npm)","details":"The `leo-config` npm package was compromised as part of the Miasma worm campaign targeting the LeoPlatform npm ecosystem. On June 24, 2026, 20 LeoPlatform packages were published within a 3-second window by a threat actor who had taken over the npm account `czirker` belonging to the LeoPlatform organization.\n\nThe malicious payload is triggered automatically during `npm install` via a `binding.gyp` file using node-gyp command expansion (`\u003c!(node index.js \u003e /dev/null 2\u003e&1 && echo stub.c)`), which bypasses lifecycle script scanners. The replaced `index.js` (~5.2 MB, obfuscated with ROT-N + AES-128-GCM encryption) deploys a multi-stage worm with the following capabilities:\n\n- Credential theft: Targets npm, GitHub, PyPI, RubyGems, Kubernetes, HashiCorp Vault, AWS (IAM keys, Secrets Manager, IMDS), 1Password, JFrog Artifactory, and SSH keys.\n- AI tool targeting: Exfiltrates configuration files for Claude, Cursor, Gemini, and VS Code.\n- Worm propagation: Enumerates npm packages and auto-publishes version bumps to spread to other maintainers in the ecosystem.\n- GitHub persistence: Creates orphan `snapshot-\u003chex\u003e` branches with fake \"Dependabot Updates\" workflows to maintain access after initial compromise.\n\nAny system that installed this version should be considered fully compromised. Rotate all secrets immediately from a separate, clean machine. See the linked SafeDep report for full payload analysis, indicators of compromise, and remediation guidance.\n\n---\n_-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_\n\n## Source: amazon-inspector (97cc6912b16110de3edb6578ad95543fa4f46f38833aa907470ea957d83f50d8)\nThe package ships a binding.gyp containing GYP command-expansion syntax (`\u003c!(...)`) at line 6 within the targets/sources fields. npm implicitly runs `node-gyp rebuild` whenever a binding.gyp is present — even without any declared install/postinstall script — and GYP evaluates `\u003c!(...)` as a shell command during the configure step. This causes the embedded command to execute automatically on `npm install`. The package does not appear to ship genuine native source files matching a real native-addon build, so the binding.gyp's only practical purpose is to run the embedded shell command at install time. This is functionally identical to a malicious lifecycle hook and constitutes install-time arbitrary code execution on any machine that installs this package.\n","modified":"2026-06-25T08:01:28.547200152Z","published":"2026-06-24T23:04:55Z","database_specific":{"malicious-packages-origins":[{"source":"amazon-inspector","modified_time":"2026-06-25T06:30:29Z","sha256":"97cc6912b16110de3edb6578ad95543fa4f46f38833aa907470ea957d83f50d8","import_time":"2026-06-25T07:47:50.646245576Z","versions":["1.1.1"],"id":"IN-MAL-2026-007469"}],"iocs":{"urls":["https://safedep.io/miasma-worm-hits-leoplatform-20-npm-packages/"]}},"references":[{"type":"ARTICLE","url":"https://safedep.io/miasma-worm-hits-leoplatform-20-npm-packages/"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://www.npmjs.com/package/leo-config/v/1.1.1"}],"affected":[{"package":{"name":"leo-config","ecosystem":"npm","purl":"pkg:npm/leo-config"},"versions":["1.1.1"],"database_specific":{"source":"https://github.com/ossf/malicious-packages/blob/main/osv/malicious/npm/leo-config/MAL-2026-6422.json","cwes":[{"name":"Embedded Malicious Code","cweId":"CWE-506","description":"The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature."},{"name":"Embedded Malicious Code","cweId":"CWE-506","description":"The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature."}],"indicators":{"evidence_files":[{"path":"binding.gyp","sha256":"32d1bc728d8e504952083a6adc488c309a401c7df4dc8f47b382ce32e4aebe21","tlsh":"48c08c3ca9380d1029d958285168d402a4b142a3494e2a81fade60284fa840b2898bad"}],"package_integrity":[{"hashes":{"sha512_sri":"sha512-iAXJM+DMPfpLeG219xDI/FtevMLKgOShJodzCD+80piswJJ9onNQRbtkgD7r/DmRXegETk9GeV1Lh7tnm0RSBw==","sha1":"ed9a17d6567101fa4f9f552a4a52cfcca88fa662"},"filename":"leo-config-1.1.1.tgz"}]}}}],"schema_version":"1.7.5","credits":[{"name":"Amazon Inspector","contact":["inspector-research@amazon.com"],"type":"FINDER"},{"name":"SafeDep","contact":["https://safedep.io"],"type":"FINDER"}]}