Which versions of cisco-github-simple are malicious?

The following npm versions of cisco-github-simple are flagged malicious: 1.0.1. Treat any of these as compromised.

How do I remediate cisco-github-simple if I installed it?

cisco-github-simple establishes remote access, so treat any host that installed it as fully compromised. Isolate the machine, remove the package, rotate all credentials it could reach, and rebuild from a trusted image rather than cleaning in place — a backdoor may have planted additional persistence.

I already installed cisco-github-simple — how do I know if it already compromised me?

If cisco-github-simple 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.

Is cisco-github-simple part of a known attack campaign?

Yes — cisco-github-simple is associated with the IN-MAL-2026-020284 campaign. Packages in the same campaign often share infrastructure and payloads, so check whether any related packages are also in your dependency tree.

How do I find cisco-github-simple across my projects, lockfiles, and CI pipelines?

Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for cisco-github-simple (version 1.0.1).

Malicious package

cisco-github-simplenpm

Advisory published Sep 22, 2026Updated Sep 22, 2026

cisco-github-simple is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-16381) that opens a backdoor for remote access (malicious version 1.0.1). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.

Malicious code in cisco-github-simple (npm)

MAL-2026-16381

Immediate action

Remove the package, then rotate any secrets the build/runtime could reach.

npm uninstall cisco-github-simple

What this malware does

The package declares a preinstall lifecycle hook (node index.js) that runs automatically on npm install. index.js collects host reconnaissance from the installer — os.hostname(), os.userInfo().username, home directory, DNS server list, and the contents of /etc/passwd and /etc/hosts, together with the package.json — assembles them into a JSON tracking payload, and POSTs the payload over HTTPS to the Burp Collaborator subdomain prk15yh0sbkd1305h200c2wv5mbhz7nw.oastify.com. The package name impersonates Cisco's GitHub namespace, consistent with a dependency-confusion recon beacon targeting internal Cisco builds. There is no legitimate purpose served by the code; installing or building against this package leaks sensitive host and account information to an attacker-controlled out-of-band domain.

Malicious versions

1 flagged

1.0.1

Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)

2281890525d50138fab3030e71561f01f898fe9b97d56d2a894f1abf30632205

Detection & response playbook

Backdoor / remote access

Find it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for cisco-github-simple (version 1.0.1).
If you installed it — respond
cisco-github-simple establishes remote access, so treat any host that installed it as fully compromised. Isolate the machine, remove the package, rotate all credentials it could reach, and rebuild from a trusted image rather than cleaning in place — a backdoor may have planted additional persistence.
Did it already run?
If cisco-github-simple 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

No. cisco-github-simple on npm has been identified as a malicious package (version 1.0.1 flagged). It should be removed immediately — do not install or keep it in your dependency tree.

Campaign

IN-MAL-2026-020284

References

npmjs.com

Credits

Amazon Inspector · finder

Detect & block this

O3 blocks cisco-github-simple-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the C2 callback and severs the channel.

Malware detection Runtime egress monitoring

Explore

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