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MAL-2026-6422

Malicious code in leo-config (npm)

Details

The `leo-config` npm package was compromised as part of the Miasma worm campaign targeting the LeoPlatform npm ecosystem. On June 24, 2026, 20 LeoPlatform packages were published within a 3-second window by a threat actor who had taken over the npm account `czirker` belonging to the LeoPlatform organization.

The malicious payload is triggered automatically during `npm install` via a `binding.gyp` file using node-gyp command expansion (`<!(node index.js > /dev/null 2>&1 && echo stub.c)`), which bypasses lifecycle script scanners. The replaced `index.js` (~5.2 MB, obfuscated with ROT-N + AES-128-GCM encryption) deploys a multi-stage worm with the following capabilities:

- Credential theft: Targets npm, GitHub, PyPI, RubyGems, Kubernetes, HashiCorp Vault, AWS (IAM keys, Secrets Manager, IMDS), 1Password, JFrog Artifactory, and SSH keys. - AI tool targeting: Exfiltrates configuration files for Claude, Cursor, Gemini, and VS Code. - Worm propagation: Enumerates npm packages and auto-publishes version bumps to spread to other maintainers in the ecosystem. - GitHub persistence: Creates orphan `snapshot-<hex>` branches with fake "Dependabot Updates" workflows to maintain access after initial compromise.

Any system that installed this version should be considered fully compromised. Rotate all secrets immediately from a separate, clean machine. See the linked SafeDep report for full payload analysis, indicators of compromise, and remediation guidance.

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## Source: amazon-inspector (97cc6912b16110de3edb6578ad95543fa4f46f38833aa907470ea957d83f50d8) The package ships a binding.gyp containing GYP command-expansion syntax (`<!(...)`) at line 6 within the targets/sources fields. npm implicitly runs `node-gyp rebuild` whenever a binding.gyp is present — even without any declared install/postinstall script — and GYP evaluates `<!(...)` as a shell command during the configure step. This causes the embedded command to execute automatically on `npm install`. The package does not appear to ship genuine native source files matching a real native-addon build, so the binding.gyp's only practical purpose is to run the embedded shell command at install time. This is functionally identical to a malicious lifecycle hook and constitutes install-time arbitrary code execution on any machine that installs this package.

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Affected packages

npm / leo-config

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References