a11y-tabindex-managernpm
Advisory published Updated
a11y-tabindex-manager is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-17501) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious version 1.0.0). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in a11y-tabindex-manager (npm)
What this malware does
a11y-tabindex-manager ships thunderboltRegistry.js, which executes an IIFE on module load that runs a series of local shell commands (cat /etc/hosts, whoami, id, pwd, ifconfig/ip addr, hostname, cat /etc/resolv.conf, uname -a, env | head -50) via child_process.execSync and POSTs each output over plain HTTP to the hardcoded endpoint http://dxpoc.gt.tc/callback.php/ef9ea0e191006f3cc6670720c99c26f3. A separate beacon labeled 'rce-poc-v3' sends Node.js version, platform, and PID to the same host. child_process is acquired both directly and via a fallback that instantiates a new Module (new module.constructor()) and copies module.paths — an evasion technique to bypass simple require('child_process') scans. The package name resembles a generic accessibility helper, but the shipped registry entry performs host identity, network configuration, user, and environment-variable harvesting with no legitimate purpose.
Malicious versions
Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)
Detection & response playbook
Credential / info stealerFind it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for a11y-tabindex-manager (version 1.0.0).
If you installed it — respond
a11y-tabindex-manager is built to steal secrets, so assume every credential the build or runtime could read is compromised. Remove it from your project and lockfile, then rotate ALL exposed secrets — npm/registry tokens, cloud keys, CI/CD secrets, SSH keys, and any .env values — from a known-clean machine. Audit logs for unauthorized use of those credentials.
Did it already run?
If a11y-tabindex-manager was installed, its post-install payload may already have run. Removing the package does not undo that — check outbound connections and credential use from the install window onward.
Frequently asked questions
Campaign
References
Credits
- Amazon Inspector · finder
Detect & block this
O3 blocks a11y-tabindex-manager-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the credential exfiltration and severs the channel.