The GlassWorm malware has appeared on the Open VSX market once more, after a writer’s account was compromised in a provide chain assault, Socket stories.
On January 30, a risk actor revealed malicious variations of 4 established VS Code extensions with over 22,000 mixed downloads.
The extensions contained code that may execute at runtime, evade methods with Russian locales, resolve command-and-control (C&C) knowledge from Solana transaction memos, and run further code.
Per beforehand noticed exercise, the extensions had been repurposed to deploy a GlassWorm loader, however the contemporary assault didn’t depend on typosquatting or cloned instruments.
“Against this, these 4 extensions had been revealed below a longtime writer account with a multi-extension historical past and significant adoption indicators throughout ecosystems,” Socket notes.
The writer additionally maintains Visible Studio Market listings with hundreds of downloads, however the analyzed incident solely issues Open VSX extensions.Commercial. Scroll to proceed studying.
“The risk actor revealed poisoned updates via a longtime writer identification, and the Open VSX safety group assessed the incident as according to leaked tokens or different unauthorized publishing entry,” Socket notes.
macOS malware
The risk actor hid an almost similar loader within the extension.js file of every extension. It hundreds code that profiles the system and receives directions from a transaction memo on Solana.
The loader explicitly focuses on macOS methods, transferring to the following stage provided that OS checks are handed. The second payload is a Node.js JavaScript implant designed for knowledge theft and persistence.
As soon as executed, the malware targets Firefox- and Chrome-based browsers to steal cookies, type historical past, login information, and wallet-extension artifacts. It additionally searches the system for Safari cookies, desktop cryptocurrency wallets, and macOS keychain, Apple Notes, and FortiClient VPN knowledge.
Lastly, it collects paperwork from the Desktop, Paperwork, and Downloads folders, and levels all of the harvested data for exfiltration to hardcoded exterior locations.
In keeping with Socket, the malware particularly targets developer credentials and configuration, reminiscent of AWS and SSH data, growing the danger of account compromise and lateral motion actions.
“This marketing campaign reveals a transparent escalation in Open VSX provide chain abuse. The risk actor blends into regular developer workflows, hides execution behind encrypted, runtime-decrypted loaders, and makes use of Solana memos as a dynamic lifeless drop to rotate staging infrastructure with out republishing extensions,” Socket notes.
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