boardstepnpm
Advisory published Updated
boardstep is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-5800) that executes malicious code on install (malicious versions 1.0.0, 1.0.1, 1.0.5…). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in boardstep (npm)
What this malware does
The package wires all three npm lifecycle hooks (preinstall, install, postinstall in package.json) to run install.js, which downloads https://www.pooron.org/tester.exe to the system temp directory under a randomized filename, marks it executable, and spawns it detached with stdio ignored and the window hidden (install.js:9 declares PAYLOAD_URL and install.js:64 calls spawn with {detached: true, stdio: 'ignore', windowsHide: true}). All errors are swallowed. There is no hash verification, the URL is unpinned, and the destination domain is unrelated to any declared publisher. The advertised purpose is a 'lightweight kanban board utility,' but index.js only exports a trivial stub class with format/getSystemInfo methods — no kanban functionality is present. The package metadata also uses a random-looking author handle ('sfhbdrffthger'), consistent with a cover-story lure paired with a dropper. On npm install, the installer's machine fetches and silently executes an opaque attacker-controlled binary.
Malicious versions
Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)
Detection & response playbook
Malicious packageFind it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for boardstep (9 malicious versions).
If you installed it — respond
Remove boardstep from your project and lockfile, then assume any secrets accessible to the build or runtime were exposed: rotate API keys, tokens, and credentials, and audit for unexpected outbound activity or persistence.
Did it already run?
If boardstep 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 boardstep-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.