Threats Tagged 'npm hijacking'

Four AsyncAPI npm packages were compromised in July 2026, delivering Miasma v3, a new variant of the worm previously found in Red Hat packages. The malicious versions (@asyncapi/generator, @asyncapi/generator-helpers, @asyncapi/generator-components, and @asyncapi/specs) were published through AsyncAPI's legitimate GitHub Actions workflow using npm's OIDC integration, creating packages with valid provenance attestations. Unlike previous variants, this attack triggers when applications load the poisoned library rather than during installation. The payload downloads a second stage from IPFS, establishing a persistent Node.js backdoor with arbitrary shell command execution capabilities. While the codebase contains credential theft, propagation, and AI-tool poisoning modules, this deployment primarily functions as a remote access trojan. The attack began with an unauthorized commit to the repository's release branch, highlighting the importance of branch protection even when using trusted-publisher mechanisms.