afterpay-sdk-example-servernpm
Advisory published Updated
afterpay-sdk-example-server is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2023-1111) that typosquats a legitimate package to trick installs (malicious versions 1.2.1, 1.2.3, 20.0.0). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in afterpay-sdk-example-server (npm)
What this malware does
package.json declares a preinstall hook ("preinstall": "node index.js") that runs automatically on npm install. index.js requires os/fs/https, then collects host identifiers and installer-side files — __dirname, os.homedir(), os.hostname(), os.userInfo(), DNS servers, the full contents of /etc/passwd and /etc/hosts, and the package.json — and POSTs them over HTTPS to xqrangwae3pk5bd12xbr6t8q9hfc32rr.oastify.com (a Burp Collaborator OAST subdomain). The package name 'afterpay-sdk-example-server' impersonates an internal Afterpay SDK example, consistent with a dependency-confusion payload targeting Afterpay's internal build systems. Whether published as research or attack, any installer running npm install leaks system account data and host fingerprints to an attacker-controlled out-of-band collection endpoint.
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.
The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'afterpay-sdk-example-server' @ 20.0.0 (npm) as malicious.
It is considered malicious because:
- The package communicates with a domain associated with malicious activity.
Malicious versions
Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)
Detection & response playbook
TyposquatFind it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for afterpay-sdk-example-server (3 malicious versions).
If you installed it — respond
afterpay-sdk-example-server is a typosquat — you almost certainly intended a legitimately-named package. Remove afterpay-sdk-example-server, install the correct package, and rotate any secrets exposed during the install since post-install scripts may have already run.
Did it already run?
If afterpay-sdk-example-server 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
- OpenSSF: Package Analysis · finder
- ReversingLabs · finder
Detect & block this
O3 blocks afterpay-sdk-example-server-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the malicious outbound activity and severs the channel.