aedes_clustersnpm
Advisory published Updated
aedes_clusters is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-12033) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious versions 1.0.1, 1.1.1). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in aedes_clusters (npm)
What this malware does
The package's package.json declares a preinstall: node index.js hook that fires automatically on npm install. index.js collects host reconnaissance data (os.hostname(), os.userInfo().username, home directory, DNS server configuration) and reads local system files including /etc/passwd and /etc/hosts, then HTTPS-POSTs the collected data to the hardcoded Burp Collaborator subdomain b5hv16nakzo45px5ga4ukkum8de52vqk.oastify.com. oastify.com is Burp Suite's out-of-band interaction service, commonly used as an attacker-controlled exfiltration sink. There is no legitimate functionality; the package's sole install-time behavior is host recon and data exfiltration.
Any computer that has this package installed or running should be considered fully compromised. All secrets and keys stored on that computer should be rotated immediately from a different computer. The package should be removed, but as full control of the computer may have been given to an outside entity, there is no guarantee that removing the package will remove all malicious software resulting from installing it.
Malicious versions
Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)
Detection & response playbook
Credential / info stealerFind it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for aedes_clusters (2 malicious versions).
If you installed it — respond
aedes_clusters 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 aedes_clusters 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 aedes_clusters-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the credential exfiltration and severs the channel.