MalwarePublished 19 Oct 2026Updated 29 Oct 2026

tailwindcss-effect-lab (npm) · Malicious Code

Affects tailwindcss-effect-labSource GCVE Database

Malicious package : remove tailwindcss-effect-lab and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.

Data as of 29 Oct 2026, 17:53 UTC

Classification

Malicious package

Published to npm · OSV MAL-2026-18087

What to do

Remove tailwindcss-effect-lab 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
npmtailwindcss-effect-lab	Affected =0.0.0-stage =1.6.7	Fixed in–

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Description

The npm package tailwindcss-effect-lab versions 0.0.0-stage and 1.6.7 is associated with a malicious campaign involving a private dependency that executes code when the plugin is loaded. The payload resides in a private scoped package that requires an npm token to access, preventing public retrieval of the malicious code. The publicly available tarball does not contain install scripts or network code. Multiple related packages were published under different accounts over several months. An Amazon Inspector analysis found no evidence of typical supply-chain attack behaviors such as network activity or credential theft in the examined package.

Impact

The malicious payload is delivered through a private dependency that executes code during plugin loading, potentially allowing unauthorized code execution in development environments that use this package. However, the public package itself does not exhibit direct malicious behaviors such as network communication or credential theft. The threat is primarily a supply-chain risk via the private dependency, which is not publicly accessible without the npm token.

Defensive guidance

Since the malicious payload resides in a private dependency requiring an npm token, avoid using tailwindcss-effect-lab versions 0.0.0-stage and 1.6.7, especially from untrusted sources. Users should audit dependencies for private packages and avoid committing npm tokens in repositories. Monitor for updates or advisories from trusted sources regarding this package or related accounts.

Summary

tailwindcss-effect-lab (versions 0.0.0-stage and 1.6.7) is a Tailwind CSS plugin linked to a malicious campaign that uses a private scoped dependency (@aaron205whitmore/postcss-animate-utils) accessible only with a committed npm token. This private package contains the actual malicious payload that executes when the plugin is loaded via tailwind.config.js and the development server starts. The public package tarball lacks install scripts and network communication code, making direct detection difficult. Twenty-six similar packages under seventeen accounts were published between July and October 2026. An Amazon Inspector security scan found no install-time or import-time network activity, no credential scraping, and no lifecycle scripts performing privileged or destructive actions in the public package.

References

Community reviews

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What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 29 Oct 2026, 17:53 UTC

Technical details

References

Community reviews