MalwarePublished 14 Jul 2026

chain-devkit (npm) · Malicious Code

Affects chain-devkitSource GCVE Database

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

Data as of 14 Jul 2026, 09:32 UTC

Classification

Malicious package

Published to npm · OSV MAL-2026-10531

What to do

Remove chain-devkit 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
npmchain-devkit	Affected =1.0.0	Fixed in–

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Description

The chain-devkit npm package version 1.0.0 includes a postinstall script that fetches a YAML configuration file from an attacker-controlled domain without integrity checks. This YAML is parsed using a vulnerable js-yaml 3.12.0 loader that allows execution of arbitrary JavaScript Function objects embedded in the YAML content. Although the current package version only reads scalar fields and does not automatically execute code, the malicious Function objects persist on disk and could be executed by consumers or future versions of the package. The package is newly published with minimal metadata and no history, indicating a high risk of malicious intent.

Impact

This vulnerability allows an attacker controlling the chain-devkit.com domain to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the installation and runtime environment of the chain-devkit package. While immediate code execution is not triggered by the current config content, the malicious code persists on disk and could be executed later by consumers or future package versions, potentially leading to remote code execution within the context of the affected environment.

Defensive guidance

Users should avoid installing or using chain-devkit version 1.0.0. Since the package fetches configuration from an attacker-controlled domain without integrity checks, the safest mitigation is to remove the package from projects and replace it with trusted alternatives. Monitor vendor advisories for any future updates or official fixes. Do not rely on the package until a verified remediation is released.

Summary

The chain-devkit npm package (version 1.0.0) executes a postinstall script that downloads a YAML configuration file from https://chain-devkit.com/config without version pinning, hash verification, or signature validation. The YAML is parsed with js-yaml 3.12.0's yaml.load, which supports !!js/function and !!js/regexp tags, enabling the creation of JavaScript Function objects during parsing. These objects are saved to disk and reloaded unsafely on require(), creating a persistent channel for remote code injection controlled by whoever manages chain-devkit.com. Although current code only reads scalar values, the presence of these Function objects means that arbitrary code execution could occur if future package versions or consumers invoke them. The package's publisher metadata is minimal and suspicious, reinforcing the likelihood of malicious intent.

References

npmjs.com/package/chain-devkit/v/1.0.0 (opens in a new tab)

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What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 14 Jul 2026, 09:32 UTC

Technical details

References

Community reviews