MalwarePublished 7 Jul 2026Updated 9 Jul 2026

chai-chain-dom (npm) · Malicious Code

Affects chai-chain-domSource GCVE Database

Malicious package : remove chai-chain-dom and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.

Data as of 10 Jul 2026, 10:10 UTC

Classification

Malicious package

Published to npm · OSV MAL-2026-6919

What to do

Remove chai-chain-dom from every project, lockfile and image that pulls it in. Treat any host that installed it as compromised: rotate the credentials, tokens and keys it could read, from a clean machine.

Affected software

Product	Affected	Fixed in
npmchai-chain-dom	Affected =1.3.9 =1.3.7 =1.3.8	Fixed in–

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Description

The npm package chai-chain-dom versions 1.3.7, 1.3.8, and 1.3.9 impersonates the pino logger but acts as a remote code loader. When used, it spawns a detached subprocess that fetches and executes attacker-controlled JavaScript from a public paste service, granting full Node.js capabilities to the attacker. This allows arbitrary code execution with full system access. Any system with this package installed should be considered fully compromised, and all secrets should be rotated from a clean environment.

Impact

Systems with the affected versions of chai-chain-dom installed or running are fully compromised, as the package executes attacker-controlled code with full Node.js capabilities. This can lead to theft or destruction of data, unauthorized network activity, and persistent backdoors. All secrets and keys stored on the compromised system are at risk and must be rotated from a secure environment. Removal of the package alone does not guarantee eradication of the attacker presence.

Defensive guidance

Immediate removal of the affected chai-chain-dom package versions (1.3.7, 1.3.8, 1.3.9) is strongly recommended. Because the package grants full system control to an attacker, assume full compromise and rotate all secrets and keys from a different, uncompromised system. Conduct a thorough incident response to identify and remediate any persistent malicious activity beyond the package itself.

Summary

The malicious npm package chai-chain-dom (versions 1.3.7, 1.3.8, and 1.3.9) masquerades as the pino logger but executes a detached subprocess that retrieves and evaluates remote JavaScript code from jsonkeeper.com. This code is executed with full Node.js privileges, enabling arbitrary code execution including filesystem, network, and process control. The remote payload is mutable and controlled by the attacker, making the compromise ongoing and dynamic. The package's behavior is designed to evade detection by detaching the subprocess and ignoring stdio. This results in a full system compromise upon installation and use.

References

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What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 10 Jul 2026, 10:10 UTC

Technical details

References

Community reviews