Malicious code in tailwindcss-form-ui (npm)
The npm package tailwindcss-form-ui (version 0.5.1) is a malicious typosquatting package impersonating the legitimate tailwindcss-forms plugin. It contains fully obfuscated code that executes arbitrary commands on the host by polling Ethereum blockchain transactions for attacker-controlled payloads. This installer-side remote code execution allows attackers to run commands on any system that installs or imports the package. The attack uses a takedown-resistant on-chain command channel, making mitigation difficult without removing the package.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The tailwindcss-form-ui npm package (version 0.5.1) impersonates the legitimate tailwindlabs/tailwindcss-forms plugin but contains obfuscated malicious code. Upon loading, it imports Node.js modules such as child_process, http/https, zlib, and url, then polls Ethereum JSON-RPC endpoints and an Etherscan-style transaction list URL for a hardcoded Ethereum address. It retrieves attacker-published transactions, decompresses payloads using gunzip, inflate, or brotli, and executes them via child_process.spawn. This mechanism provides the attacker with arbitrary command execution on any host that installs or imports this package, leveraging a blockchain-based command-and-control channel that is resistant to takedown.
Potential Impact
This vulnerability enables remote code execution on any system that installs or imports the malicious tailwindcss-form-ui package. The attacker can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user running the Node.js process, potentially leading to full system compromise. The use of a blockchain-based command channel makes the attack resilient to traditional takedown methods.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or fix is currently available. Users should immediately remove the tailwindcss-form-ui package (version 0.5.1) from their projects and replace it with the legitimate tailwindlabs/tailwindcss-forms package. Avoid installing packages with suspicious or similar names to trusted packages. Monitor package sources carefully to prevent typosquatting attacks.
Malicious code in tailwindcss-form-ui (npm)
Description
The npm package tailwindcss-form-ui (version 0.5.1) is a malicious typosquatting package impersonating the legitimate tailwindcss-forms plugin. It contains fully obfuscated code that executes arbitrary commands on the host by polling Ethereum blockchain transactions for attacker-controlled payloads. This installer-side remote code execution allows attackers to run commands on any system that installs or imports the package. The attack uses a takedown-resistant on-chain command channel, making mitigation difficult without removing the package.
Affected software
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The tailwindcss-form-ui npm package (version 0.5.1) impersonates the legitimate tailwindlabs/tailwindcss-forms plugin but contains obfuscated malicious code. Upon loading, it imports Node.js modules such as child_process, http/https, zlib, and url, then polls Ethereum JSON-RPC endpoints and an Etherscan-style transaction list URL for a hardcoded Ethereum address. It retrieves attacker-published transactions, decompresses payloads using gunzip, inflate, or brotli, and executes them via child_process.spawn. This mechanism provides the attacker with arbitrary command execution on any host that installs or imports this package, leveraging a blockchain-based command-and-control channel that is resistant to takedown.
Potential Impact
This vulnerability enables remote code execution on any system that installs or imports the malicious tailwindcss-form-ui package. The attacker can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user running the Node.js process, potentially leading to full system compromise. The use of a blockchain-based command channel makes the attack resilient to traditional takedown methods.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or fix is currently available. Users should immediately remove the tailwindcss-form-ui package (version 0.5.1) from their projects and replace it with the legitimate tailwindlabs/tailwindcss-forms package. Avoid installing packages with suspicious or similar names to trusted packages. Monitor package sources carefully to prevent typosquatting attacks.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- MAL-2026-16262
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.7.4
- Ecosystems
- ["npm"]
Threat ID: 6aac8e2855bf5e2cf5490b36
Added to database: 09/18/2026, 01:04:40 UTC
Last enriched: 09/18/2026, 01:39:48 UTC
Last updated: 09/18/2026, 01:39:48 UTC
Views: 3
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