MalwarePublished 6 Aug 2026

gpt-terminal-cli (npm) · Malicious Code

Affects gpt-terminal-cliSource GCVE Database

Malicious package : remove gpt-terminal-cli and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.

Data as of 7 Aug 2026, 06:12 UTC

Classification

Malicious package

Published to npm · OSV MAL-2026-13447

What to do

Remove gpt-terminal-cli 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
npmgpt-terminal-cli	Affected =1.0.0	Fixed in–

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Description

The gpt-terminal-cli npm package version 1.0.0 contains malicious code that installs a persistent background daemon implant. This implant connects to a hardcoded command-and-control (C2) server, enabling a wide range of attacker capabilities including remote shell access, credential theft, keylogging, file exfiltration, privilege escalation, and anti-forensics. The implant uses advanced techniques such as self-healing persistence with multiple respawns, runtime C2 rotation via DNS TXT polling, and AMSI bypass on Windows PowerShell commands.

Impact

This malicious package enables attackers to gain persistent remote access to infected systems, steal sensitive credentials and data, monitor user activity via keylogging and clipboard capture, exfiltrate files, escalate privileges, move laterally within networks, and evade detection through anti-forensics techniques. The implant's self-healing and dynamic C2 rotation capabilities increase its resilience and complicate incident response.

Defensive guidance

Users should immediately uninstall version 1.0.0 of gpt-terminal-cli and avoid installing this package. Conduct thorough system scans for the implant and related artifacts if this package was installed. Monitor network traffic for connections to the known C2 IP (13.60.13.215) and related domains. Since this is a malicious package, remediation involves removal and incident response rather than patching. Check vendor or repository advisories for updates or warnings.

Summary

The gpt-terminal-cli package (version 1.0.0) masquerades as an AI chat CLI but executes a post-install script that launches a detached implant daemon. This implant maintains persistence by respawning up to 50 times if terminated and communicates with a hardcoded C2 server at http://13.60.13.215:7771 using an AES-256-GCM encrypted and HMAC-signed protocol. It supports multiple malicious operations including reverse PTY shell access, credential theft, clipboard and keylogging data collection, file exfiltration, lateral movement, privilege escalation, and anti-forensics. The implant dynamically updates its C2 endpoint and encryption keys by polling DNS TXT records every 30 minutes, enabling infrastructure agility without package updates. On Windows, it bypasses AMSI protections by injecting a reflection stub into PowerShell invocations.

References

npmjs.com/package/gpt-terminal-cli/v/1.0.0 (opens in a new tab)

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What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 7 Aug 2026, 06:12 UTC

Technical details

References

Community reviews