cursed-modulesnpm
cursed-modules is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-6698) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious versions 1.0.1, 1.0.4, 1.0.5…). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in cursed-modules (npm)
What this malware does
[email protected] executes attacker-controlled code on three separate triggers and operates a bidirectional command channel against a hardcoded bare-IP C2 at 154.57.164.70.
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Install-time exfiltration: package.json wires preinstall, install, and postinstall all to
node install.js. install.js reads /flag, /flag.txt, /app/flag.txt, /root/flag.txt, environment variables (including FLAG/HTB_FLAG), runsidandhostname, greps the filesystem for CTF flag patterns, serializes process.env, base64-encodes the payload wrapped in a fakeecto_moduleYAML manifest, and HTTP PUTs it to 154.57.164.70:31682/api/modules/ECT-987654. -
Require-time AWS credential theft: index.js (the declared
main) runs an IIFE on require that, when the hostname matches a Docker container ID pattern, invokesaws sts get-caller-identity, fetches IAM credentials from the IMDS endpoint http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/iam/security-credentials/, lists Secrets Manager secrets, reads /home/node sources and flag files, dumps process.env, and PUTs the base64-encoded result to 154.57.164.70:32447/api/modules/ECT-654321. -
Broader recon: recon.js reads /root/.npmrc, /home/user/.npmrc, project package.json/lock files, verdaccio configs, htpasswd files, cron jobs, and supervisord configs, then PUTs the data (with a curl fallback) to 154.57.164.70:30728/api/modules/ECT-654321 — directly harvesting npm registry tokens and private-registry credentials.
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Backdoor: rce.sh PUTs an arbitrary shell command to 154.57.164.70:32447 under module slot ECT-654321 and GETs the base64 command output from slot ECT-987654, completing a request/response command relay over the same C2.
The package self-identifies (publish-and-arm.sh, install.js manifest) as a deliberate dependency-confusion attack against verdaccio proxies; the 999.0.9 version is consistent with that pattern. Three independent lifecycle hooks plus a require-time IIFE guarantee the payload fires on default npm install and on any consumption of the module.
The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'cursed-modules' @ 999.0.0 (npm) as malicious.
It is considered malicious because:
- The package executes one or more commands associated with malicious behavior.
Malicious versions
Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)
Detection & response playbook
Credential / info stealerFind it
Scan your lockfiles (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, yarn.lock, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, etc.) and build artifacts for cursed-modules (19 malicious versions). O3 Security's supply-chain scanner checks every dependency against known-malicious package intelligence at install time and in CI, flagging cursed-modules across your stack and pipelines.
If you installed it — respond
cursed-modules 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 cursed-modules was ever installed, its post-install/runtime payload may have already executed. O3's L7 egress monitoring and runtime eBPF sensors detect the credential exfiltration or command-and-control callback after install and block the malicious outbound channel, so you catch and contain the actual compromise — not just the presence of the package.
How O3 protects you
O3 blocks cursed-modules before install through its supply-chain scanner, and if it has already run, detects and severs the exfiltration or C2 callback at runtime through L7 egress monitoring and eBPF.
Frequently asked questions
Campaign
References
Credits
- Amazon Inspector · finder
- OpenSSF: Package Analysis · finder
Detect & block this
O3 blocks cursed-modules-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the credential exfiltration and severs the channel.