ect-472839-ctfnpm
Advisory published Updated
ect-472839-ctf is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-5718) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious version 1.0.0). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in ect-472839-ctf (npm)
What this malware does
package.json declares a preinstall hook ("preinstall": "node index.js") that auto-executes on npm install. index.js issues an HTTP GET to the hardcoded bare IP 10.107.121.85:8000 at path /ping_472839_ctf. The unique token in the URL path makes the request itself the exfiltrated signal — it confirms to the operator of that endpoint that the package executed inside the installer's environment, leaking the installer's source IP and the fact that code execution succeeded. The package advertises no functionality that would justify a phone-home, and the destination is a private-range IP rather than any documented service. This is the canonical dependency-confusion / CTF probe shape, and the same mechanism would deliver any payload an attacker placed in index.js.
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 ect-472839-ctf (version 1.0.0).
If you installed it — respond
ect-472839-ctf 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 ect-472839-ctf 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 ect-472839-ctf-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the credential exfiltration and severs the channel.