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A sustained malware campaign targeting Roblox developers through malicious npm packages has been uncovered by Checkmarx security researchers. The attackers are impersonating the popular “noblox.js” library, publishing dozens of packages designed to steal sensitive information and compromise systems.
The campaign, which has been active for over a year, exploits trust in the open-source ecosystem. It particularly targets the Roblox platform, a lucrative target due to its massive user base of over 70 million daily active users.
Despite multiple takedowns, new malicious packages continue to appear. Worryingly, some remain active on the npm registry as of the time of writing.
The attackers have employed extensive measures to create a convincing facade of legitimacy for their harmful packages. These techniques include sophisticated methods like brandjacking, combosquatting, and starjacking.
The method used involves selecting names that imply the packages are either extensions or closely related to the authentic “noblox.js” library, such as “noblox.js-async,” “noblox.js-thread,” and “noblox.js-api.”
Mimicking the naming conventions typical in libraries, which often release multiple versions or extensions, raises the likelihood that unsuspecting developers might accidentally install these deceptive packages.
Moreover, starjacking is another scheme used to enhance this facade of credibility. By associating the malicious packages with the GitHub URL of the legitimate library, the perpetrators deceptively increase the apparent popularity and trustworthiness of their packages.
Even the malware within the package is carefully disguised. The attackers mimicked the structure of the legitimate “noblox.js” but introduced their malicious code within the “postinstall.js” file. They then heavily obfuscated this code, including Chinese characters to deter analysis.
These combined techniques create a convincing façade of legitimacy, significantly increasing the likelihood of the malicious packages being installed and executed.
Once installed, the malicious code exploits npm’s “postinstall” hook to execute automatically—a feature designed for legitimate setup processes is turned into a gateway for the malware.
The initially obfuscated code can be deobfuscated using readily available online tools, revealing the malware’s operation. The code steals Discord authentication tokens, disables security measures like Malwarebytes and Windows Defender, and downloads additional payloads from the attacker’s GitHub repository.
Furthermore, the malware employs a sophisticated persistence technique. It manipulates the Windows registry to execute itself every time the Windows Settings app is opened, ensuring its survival on the infected system.
Throughout its execution, the malware gathers sensitive system information and packages it neatly to send to the attacker’s command-and-control server via a Discord webhook.
Finally, the coup de grâce comes with the deployment of QuasarRAT—a remote access tool granting the attacker comprehensive control over the compromised system.
The second-stage malware originates from an active GitHub repository: https://github.com/aspdasdksa2/callback—a worrying sign that this infrastructure remains both accessible and potentially in use for distributing malware through other unsuspecting packages.
While the most recent malicious packages have been removed by npm’s security team, the attacker’s continued infrastructure presence and persistence represents a very real and ongoing threat.
Developers, particularly those working with packages resembling popular libraries like “noblox.js,” are urged to exercise extreme caution. Thoroughly vetting packages before incorporation into projects is a necessity to protect developers and users from sophisticated supply chain attacks like this.
Attackers are becoming increasingly savvy, finding new and ingenious ways to exploit trust within the open-source ecosystem. Vigilance and a healthy dose of scepticism is more vital than ever.
(Photo by Oberon Copeland)
See also: North Korean hackers target developers in latest npm attack wave
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