Shai-Hulud Worm Unleashed: 180+ NPM Packages Compromised in Devastating Supply Chain Attack

A sophisticated supply chain attack, dubbed "Shai-Hulud," has compromised over 180 npm packages, aiming to steal developer credentials and publish them on GitHub. The self-replicating worm exploits vulnerabilities in the JavaScript ecosystem, posing a significant threat to software development.

Key Takeaways

• A self-replicating worm named "Shai-Hulud" has infected more than 180 npm packages.

• The attack targets developer credentials, including GitHub, NPM, AWS, and Google Cloud keys.

• Malicious code injects a script to steal secrets using tools like TruffleHog.

• Stolen secrets are published to public GitHub repositories and used to propagate the attack.

• The worm specifically targets Linux and macOS environments, avoiding Windows.

The Shai-Hulud Attack Unveiled

The Shai-Hulud worm operates by injecting a malicious post-install script into compromised npm packages. This script is designed to fetch and execute the TruffleHog secret scanning tool, which then searches for and exfiltrates sensitive information such as environment variables, cloud keys, and GitHub/NPM tokens.

Once credentials, particularly GitHub tokens, are identified, the worm leverages them to create new public repositories on GitHub. These repositories are often named "Shai-Hulud Migration" and are used to dump the stolen secrets. Additionally, the worm pushes a GitHub Actions workflow to exfiltrate secrets to a hardcoded webhook and converts private repositories to public ones.

Self-Replication and Ecosystem Impact

A critical feature of the Shai-Hulud attack is its self-propagating nature. When a compromised package is installed, it can use any identified NPM tokens to enumerate and update other packages maintained by the same developer. This allows the worm to automatically publish malicious versions of accessible packages, creating a cascading effect of infections throughout the npm ecosystem.

Security firms like Wiz have described Shai-Hulud as one of the most severe JavaScript supply chain attacks observed to date. The attack's impact is amplified by the interconnected nature of npm packages, where inter-dependencies can lead to widespread compromise.

Affected Packages and Mitigation

Over 180 npm packages have been affected, including widely used ones like (over 2 million weekly downloads) and (300,000 weekly downloads). CrowdStrike also reported that some of its packages were briefly compromised before being removed.

Developers are advised to be vigilant about suspicious package updates, especially those appearing on npm but not on GitHub. Pinning dependencies to specific versions can help prevent unexpected malicious updates. If a compromise is suspected, users should revoke and reissue all GitHub and NPM tokens, SSH keys, API keys, and environment variable secrets, and reinstall all packages.

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Sources

• Shai-Hulud Supply Chain Attack: Worm Used to Steal Secrets, 180+ NPM Packages Hit, SecurityWeek.

• Self-Replicating Worm Hits 180+ npm Packages to Steal Credentials in Latest Supply Chain Attack, The Hacker News.

• Self-replicating worm hits 180+ npm packages in (largely) automated supply chain attack, Help Net Security.

• Self-Replicating Worm Hits 180+ Software Packages – Krebs on Security, Krebs on Security.