Malicious code in @redhat-cloud-services/vulnerabilities-client (npm)
Part of the "Mini Shai-Hulud" supply chain worm campaign that compromised the GitHub Actions OIDC trusted publisher shared by Red Hat Cloud Services npm packages. The attacker injected a `preinstall` hook into this and 31 other packages in the `@redhat-cloud-services` scope. The hook delivers a three-layer obfuscated payload (ROT-9 Caesar cipher over a 1.27M-entry character-code array -> AES-128-GCM decryption with hardcoded keys -> stacked obfuscator.io encoding with PBKDF2+SHA-256 keystream S-box substitution) that downloads a pinned Bun runtime (v1.3.13) from GitHub to execute the worm outside the victim's Node installation. **Credential theft:** Harvests AWS credentials (IMDS, ECS, Secrets Manager, SSM), Azure managed identities, GCP service account tokens, HashiCorp Vault tokens, Kubernetes service account tokens (`/var/run/secrets/kubernetes.io/serviceaccount/token`), GitHub PATs, npm publish tokens, environment variables from ~40 CI platforms (CircleCI, Travis CI, Jenkins, and others), password manager stores (Bitwarden, gopass), and local files (`~/.npmrc`, `~/.netrc`, shell history, database history). Collected data is exfiltrated to attacker-controlled public GitHub repositories. **Privilege escalation:** Exploits Docker socket access to escape containers and modify `/etc/sudoers.d`, granting passwordless sudo to CI runner user accounts. **Self-propagation:** Uses stolen npm credentials to republish tampered tarballs of target packages. Injects a malicious CodeQL workflow into accessible GitHub repositories via the GraphQL `createCommitOnBranch` mutation, exchanges GitHub Actions OIDC tokens for npm publish tokens, and signs the resulting artifacts through Sigstore (Fulcio/Rekor) to appear legitimate. **Persistence and evasion:** Installs a daemon at `/tmp/kitty-<random>`, hijacks `.claude/settings.json` for AI agent persistence, and hijacks `.vscode/tasks.json` for editor task execution. Detects sandbox environments via `__FAKE_PLATFORM__`, `TESTING_TAR_FAKE_PLATFORM__`, and `__IS_DAEMON` environment variables, and probes for EDR tools (CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, Carbon Black, StepSecurity Harden-Runner). --- _-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_ ## Source: ghsa-malware (edaa4cae089339e593113bcee558fa15ea81472239c76e21019b89f46b76f204) 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
This threat involves malicious code injected into the @redhat-cloud-services/vulnerabilities-client npm package (versions 2.1.8, 2.1.9, and 2.1.11) as part of a supply chain attack campaign named "Mini Shai-Hulud." The attacker added a preinstall hook delivering a multi-layer obfuscated payload that downloads a Bun runtime to execute the worm outside Node.js. The payload harvests a broad spectrum of credentials from AWS, Azure, GCP, HashiCorp Vault, Kubernetes, GitHub, npm, CI platforms, password managers, and local files, exfiltrating data to attacker-controlled GitHub repositories. It escalates privileges by exploiting Docker socket access to gain passwordless sudo rights for CI runner accounts. The worm self-propagates by republishing malicious npm packages using stolen credentials, injecting malicious CodeQL workflows into GitHub repositories, and signing artifacts via Sigstore to appear legitimate. Persistence is maintained through daemon installation and hijacking AI agent and editor configuration files. The malware detects sandbox environments and probes for EDR tools to evade detection. The source advises that any system with this package installed should be considered fully compromised, with immediate secret rotation from a separate machine recommended. No patch or official fix is documented in the provided data.
Potential Impact
Systems with the affected package versions installed are fully compromised. The attacker gains access to a wide range of sensitive credentials across multiple cloud providers, CI platforms, password managers, and local secrets. Privilege escalation allows container escape and passwordless sudo access, increasing control over the host. The worm self-propagates by republishing malicious packages and injecting workflows into GitHub repositories, potentially spreading the compromise further. Persistence mechanisms and evasion techniques reduce the likelihood of detection and removal. The compromise risks extensive data exfiltration, unauthorized access, and further supply chain contamination.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or remediation guidance is provided in the vendor advisory or source data. Due to the extensive compromise and persistence mechanisms, removing the package alone is insufficient to ensure system integrity. It is recommended to consider any system with the affected package versions installed as fully compromised. Immediate rotation of all secrets and credentials from a separate, clean environment is critical. Investigate and remediate any persistence mechanisms and unauthorized changes to system and CI configurations. Monitor for and revoke any unauthorized tokens or credentials. Follow organizational incident response procedures for supply chain compromises.
Malicious code in @redhat-cloud-services/vulnerabilities-client (npm)
Description
Part of the "Mini Shai-Hulud" supply chain worm campaign that compromised the GitHub Actions OIDC trusted publisher shared by Red Hat Cloud Services npm packages. The attacker injected a `preinstall` hook into this and 31 other packages in the `@redhat-cloud-services` scope. The hook delivers a three-layer obfuscated payload (ROT-9 Caesar cipher over a 1.27M-entry character-code array -> AES-128-GCM decryption with hardcoded keys -> stacked obfuscator.io encoding with PBKDF2+SHA-256 keystream S-box substitution) that downloads a pinned Bun runtime (v1.3.13) from GitHub to execute the worm outside the victim's Node installation. **Credential theft:** Harvests AWS credentials (IMDS, ECS, Secrets Manager, SSM), Azure managed identities, GCP service account tokens, HashiCorp Vault tokens, Kubernetes service account tokens (`/var/run/secrets/kubernetes.io/serviceaccount/token`), GitHub PATs, npm publish tokens, environment variables from ~40 CI platforms (CircleCI, Travis CI, Jenkins, and others), password manager stores (Bitwarden, gopass), and local files (`~/.npmrc`, `~/.netrc`, shell history, database history). Collected data is exfiltrated to attacker-controlled public GitHub repositories. **Privilege escalation:** Exploits Docker socket access to escape containers and modify `/etc/sudoers.d`, granting passwordless sudo to CI runner user accounts. **Self-propagation:** Uses stolen npm credentials to republish tampered tarballs of target packages. Injects a malicious CodeQL workflow into accessible GitHub repositories via the GraphQL `createCommitOnBranch` mutation, exchanges GitHub Actions OIDC tokens for npm publish tokens, and signs the resulting artifacts through Sigstore (Fulcio/Rekor) to appear legitimate. **Persistence and evasion:** Installs a daemon at `/tmp/kitty-<random>`, hijacks `.claude/settings.json` for AI agent persistence, and hijacks `.vscode/tasks.json` for editor task execution. Detects sandbox environments via `__FAKE_PLATFORM__`, `TESTING_TAR_FAKE_PLATFORM__`, and `__IS_DAEMON` environment variables, and probes for EDR tools (CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, Carbon Black, StepSecurity Harden-Runner). --- _-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_ ## Source: ghsa-malware (edaa4cae089339e593113bcee558fa15ea81472239c76e21019b89f46b76f204) 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
This threat involves malicious code injected into the @redhat-cloud-services/vulnerabilities-client npm package (versions 2.1.8, 2.1.9, and 2.1.11) as part of a supply chain attack campaign named "Mini Shai-Hulud." The attacker added a preinstall hook delivering a multi-layer obfuscated payload that downloads a Bun runtime to execute the worm outside Node.js. The payload harvests a broad spectrum of credentials from AWS, Azure, GCP, HashiCorp Vault, Kubernetes, GitHub, npm, CI platforms, password managers, and local files, exfiltrating data to attacker-controlled GitHub repositories. It escalates privileges by exploiting Docker socket access to gain passwordless sudo rights for CI runner accounts. The worm self-propagates by republishing malicious npm packages using stolen credentials, injecting malicious CodeQL workflows into GitHub repositories, and signing artifacts via Sigstore to appear legitimate. Persistence is maintained through daemon installation and hijacking AI agent and editor configuration files. The malware detects sandbox environments and probes for EDR tools to evade detection. The source advises that any system with this package installed should be considered fully compromised, with immediate secret rotation from a separate machine recommended. No patch or official fix is documented in the provided data.
Potential Impact
Systems with the affected package versions installed are fully compromised. The attacker gains access to a wide range of sensitive credentials across multiple cloud providers, CI platforms, password managers, and local secrets. Privilege escalation allows container escape and passwordless sudo access, increasing control over the host. The worm self-propagates by republishing malicious packages and injecting workflows into GitHub repositories, potentially spreading the compromise further. Persistence mechanisms and evasion techniques reduce the likelihood of detection and removal. The compromise risks extensive data exfiltration, unauthorized access, and further supply chain contamination.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or remediation guidance is provided in the vendor advisory or source data. Due to the extensive compromise and persistence mechanisms, removing the package alone is insufficient to ensure system integrity. It is recommended to consider any system with the affected package versions installed as fully compromised. Immediate rotation of all secrets and credentials from a separate, clean environment is critical. Investigate and remediate any persistence mechanisms and unauthorized changes to system and CI configurations. Monitor for and revoke any unauthorized tokens or credentials. Follow organizational incident response procedures for supply chain compromises.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- MAL-2026-5148
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.7.4
- Aliases
- ["GHSA-p4vp-xg44-93v7"]
- Ecosystems
- ["npm"]
- Database Specific Severity
- null
- Cvss Version
- null
Threat ID: 6a520ee368715ace4391aae8
Added to database: 07/11/2026, 09:37:39 UTC
Last enriched: 07/11/2026, 10:06:32 UTC
Last updated: 07/19/2026, 23:27:19 UTC
Views: 7
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