Malicious code in nodemon-sudo (npm)
The npm package `nodemon-sudo` is a typosquat of the popular `nodemon` package: its `package.json` description ("Simple monitor script for use during development of a Node.js app."), `main` entry (`./lib/nodemon`), and forged `author` field (`Remy Sharp`, the real maintainer of `nodemon`) are copied from the legitimate project to appear trustworthy. It was published by npm user `conodeeth` (`[email protected]`) as a single release, version 3.1.16, with no prior or subsequent versions. Its `package.json` declares `tslint-conf@^7.2.1` as a direct runtime dependency — a separately-tracked malicious package (see MAL-2026-7022) that itself masquerades as the `pino` logger and, when its default-exported middleware factory is invoked, spawns a detached background worker (`lib/caller.js`) that fetches attacker-controlled code from a Pinata IPFS gateway and executes it via `new Function.constructor('require', s)`, granting full filesystem and environment access. Static review of `nodemon-sudo`'s own source (all 27 JavaScript files in the published tarball, `lib/`, `bin/`, and root) found no `require('tslint-conf')` or other reference to it anywhere in the package's own code — `nodemon-sudo` itself does not declare an install hook and does not directly invoke the malicious dependency's trigger. Its role in the attack is to typosquat a high-download-count package name and force the known-malicious `tslint-conf` onto the dependency tree of anyone who installs it (a dependency-confusion / malicious-dependency-bundling distribution vector), positioning it for exploitation by any other code path in the victim's project that later requires and calls it. Per SafeDep's analysis, `nodemon-sudo` is linked to the `tslint-conf` supply-chain campaign (also distributed via the related, separately-tracked packages `nodemon-node` — MAL-2026-6957 — and `ts-await` — MAL-2026-6958), attributed with suspected North Korea-linked tradecraft (lookalike package names, jsonkeeper.com dead drops, JSON-field code execution via the `Function` constructor, and no reliance on install hooks). Full analysis: https://safedep.io/malicious-nodemon-sudo-tslint-conf-npm-backdoor/ Analysis performed via static review only (npm registry metadata and package source retrieved as text via the npm registry and unpkg CDN) — the package was not installed or executed. --- _-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_ ## Source: amazon-inspector (ffc26c0e85db45d7e314fbce4140e9abda3f2eb0912cf1bd9259572a7b7d8f33) Package `nodemon-sudo` copies upstream `nodemon`'s identity — `package.json` reuses Remy Sharp as author, `https://nodemon.io` as homepage, and `github.com/remy/nodemon.git` as repository, and ships an essentially unmodified copy of nodemon's source. The `bin` entry is named `nodemon`, so a global install shadows the real `nodemon` CLI in the installer's PATH. The manifest additionally declares `tslint-conf` in `dependencies`, which is not part of upstream nodemon's dependency set and has no role in nodemon's runtime; installing `nodemon-sudo` therefore pulls this unrelated third-party package into the installer's node_modules. The package itself was not observed exfiltrating data, executing remote code at install time, or shipping a backdoor — the concern is name-confusion (a developer following a tutorial that suggests `sudo` may install this instead of `nodemon`), CLI hijack via the shared `nodemon` bin name, and the injection of an off-purpose dependency into downstream dependency graphs. ## Source: ghsa-malware (e6b941e7418bdecb5f25e70716d050d989137d1cc995e31de120799bb96aae0c) Any computer that has this package installed or running should be considered fully compromised. All secrets and keys stored on that computer should be rotated immediately from a different computer. The package should be removed, but as full control of the computer may have been given to an outside entity, there is no guarantee that removing the package will remove all malicious software resulting from installing it.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The nodemon-sudo package copies the legitimate nodemon package's identity, including author, homepage, and repository metadata, and uses the same CLI binary name 'nodemon', which can shadow the real nodemon CLI when installed globally. It introduces an unrelated dependency 'tslint-conf' not present in the upstream nodemon, potentially polluting downstream dependency graphs. While no direct malicious behavior such as data exfiltration or remote code execution at install time was observed, the package's design enables CLI hijacking and confusion, which can lead to compromise. According to the GHSA advisory, any system with this package installed should be considered fully compromised, requiring secret rotation and careful remediation.
Potential Impact
The primary impact is the potential full compromise of any computer with nodemon-sudo installed or running. The package's CLI hijacking can mislead developers and automated systems, potentially leading to execution of malicious code or unintended behavior. The injection of an unrelated dependency may introduce further risks. Secrets and keys stored on affected systems are at risk and must be rotated. Removing the package does not guarantee full remediation due to possible persistence of malicious software.
Mitigation Recommendations
Immediate removal of the nodemon-sudo package is recommended. All secrets and keys on affected systems should be rotated from a different, trusted computer. Due to the risk of full system compromise, a thorough investigation and remediation beyond package removal is advised. No official patch or fix exists as this is a malicious package impersonation; prevention involves verifying package authenticity before installation.
Malicious code in nodemon-sudo (npm)
Description
The npm package `nodemon-sudo` is a typosquat of the popular `nodemon` package: its `package.json` description ("Simple monitor script for use during development of a Node.js app."), `main` entry (`./lib/nodemon`), and forged `author` field (`Remy Sharp`, the real maintainer of `nodemon`) are copied from the legitimate project to appear trustworthy. It was published by npm user `conodeeth` (`[email protected]`) as a single release, version 3.1.16, with no prior or subsequent versions. Its `package.json` declares `tslint-conf@^7.2.1` as a direct runtime dependency — a separately-tracked malicious package (see MAL-2026-7022) that itself masquerades as the `pino` logger and, when its default-exported middleware factory is invoked, spawns a detached background worker (`lib/caller.js`) that fetches attacker-controlled code from a Pinata IPFS gateway and executes it via `new Function.constructor('require', s)`, granting full filesystem and environment access. Static review of `nodemon-sudo`'s own source (all 27 JavaScript files in the published tarball, `lib/`, `bin/`, and root) found no `require('tslint-conf')` or other reference to it anywhere in the package's own code — `nodemon-sudo` itself does not declare an install hook and does not directly invoke the malicious dependency's trigger. Its role in the attack is to typosquat a high-download-count package name and force the known-malicious `tslint-conf` onto the dependency tree of anyone who installs it (a dependency-confusion / malicious-dependency-bundling distribution vector), positioning it for exploitation by any other code path in the victim's project that later requires and calls it. Per SafeDep's analysis, `nodemon-sudo` is linked to the `tslint-conf` supply-chain campaign (also distributed via the related, separately-tracked packages `nodemon-node` — MAL-2026-6957 — and `ts-await` — MAL-2026-6958), attributed with suspected North Korea-linked tradecraft (lookalike package names, jsonkeeper.com dead drops, JSON-field code execution via the `Function` constructor, and no reliance on install hooks). Full analysis: https://safedep.io/malicious-nodemon-sudo-tslint-conf-npm-backdoor/ Analysis performed via static review only (npm registry metadata and package source retrieved as text via the npm registry and unpkg CDN) — the package was not installed or executed. --- _-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_ ## Source: amazon-inspector (ffc26c0e85db45d7e314fbce4140e9abda3f2eb0912cf1bd9259572a7b7d8f33) Package `nodemon-sudo` copies upstream `nodemon`'s identity — `package.json` reuses Remy Sharp as author, `https://nodemon.io` as homepage, and `github.com/remy/nodemon.git` as repository, and ships an essentially unmodified copy of nodemon's source. The `bin` entry is named `nodemon`, so a global install shadows the real `nodemon` CLI in the installer's PATH. The manifest additionally declares `tslint-conf` in `dependencies`, which is not part of upstream nodemon's dependency set and has no role in nodemon's runtime; installing `nodemon-sudo` therefore pulls this unrelated third-party package into the installer's node_modules. The package itself was not observed exfiltrating data, executing remote code at install time, or shipping a backdoor — the concern is name-confusion (a developer following a tutorial that suggests `sudo` may install this instead of `nodemon`), CLI hijack via the shared `nodemon` bin name, and the injection of an off-purpose dependency into downstream dependency graphs. ## Source: ghsa-malware (e6b941e7418bdecb5f25e70716d050d989137d1cc995e31de120799bb96aae0c) Any computer that has this package installed or running should be considered fully compromised. All secrets and keys stored on that computer should be rotated immediately from a different computer. The package should be removed, but as full control of the computer may have been given to an outside entity, there is no guarantee that removing the package will remove all malicious software resulting from installing it.
Affected software
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The nodemon-sudo package copies the legitimate nodemon package's identity, including author, homepage, and repository metadata, and uses the same CLI binary name 'nodemon', which can shadow the real nodemon CLI when installed globally. It introduces an unrelated dependency 'tslint-conf' not present in the upstream nodemon, potentially polluting downstream dependency graphs. While no direct malicious behavior such as data exfiltration or remote code execution at install time was observed, the package's design enables CLI hijacking and confusion, which can lead to compromise. According to the GHSA advisory, any system with this package installed should be considered fully compromised, requiring secret rotation and careful remediation.
Potential Impact
The primary impact is the potential full compromise of any computer with nodemon-sudo installed or running. The package's CLI hijacking can mislead developers and automated systems, potentially leading to execution of malicious code or unintended behavior. The injection of an unrelated dependency may introduce further risks. Secrets and keys stored on affected systems are at risk and must be rotated. Removing the package does not guarantee full remediation due to possible persistence of malicious software.
Mitigation Recommendations
Immediate removal of the nodemon-sudo package is recommended. All secrets and keys on affected systems should be rotated from a different, trusted computer. Due to the risk of full system compromise, a thorough investigation and remediation beyond package removal is advised. No official patch or fix exists as this is a malicious package impersonation; prevention involves verifying package authenticity before installation.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- MAL-2026-10014
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.7.4
- Aliases
- ["GHSA-8228-4gjp-c339"]
- Ecosystems
- ["npm"]
- Database Specific Severity
- null
- Cvss Version
- null
Threat ID: 6a50ba9168715ace43582308
Added to database: 07/10/2026, 09:25:37 UTC
Last enriched: 07/10/2026, 10:09:43 UTC
Last updated: 07/31/2026, 11:02:59 UTC
Views: 35
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