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Malicious package

exam-kitnpm

Advisory published Updated

exam-kit is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-14331) that executes malicious code on install (malicious versions 1.0.0, 1.0.1, 1.0.2…). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.

Malicious code in exam-kit (npm)

MAL-2026-14331
Immediate action
Remove the package, then rotate any secrets the build/runtime could reach.
npm uninstall exam-kit

What this malware does

On any require/import of exam-kit, the main entry runs a top-level await that reads an out-of-package file at../../../../public/logo.ico, DES-decrypts it using a hardcoded key ('bf497c0b9cee'), and pipes the plaintext into a detached node child process via stdin (spawn('node', [], {detached:true, stdio:['pipe','ignore','ignore']}); stdin.write(rsaDecrypted); unref()). The decrypted bytes are opaque code executed on the installer's host with no integrity check. The loader hides its purpose with cover-story naming: a variable named rsaDecrypted actually holds DES-decrypted content, the function readLogoIco treats an.ico asset as ciphertext, and errors are logged as 'ThetaSDK initialization error' — unrelated to the package's stated exam-session purpose. The path-traversal source (../../../../public/logo.ico), hardcoded symmetric key, misleading log strings, and detached/unref'd spawn are dropper-loader characteristics rather than legitimate library behavior.

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

4 flagged
1.0.01.0.11.0.21.0.3

Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)

e817468936bfd06bc41640b486d0d044e5934bb8e7653bd97340efd4920d8b7a
29cd95c1b59238861675a30a947648a2280420c11e53dcb4f8501db5cb736313
9c8686f2b1b56288a38507e0762a3d9bb6ea475e7b09745bbf41f1df975513df
3ff4b1030975db1007de0f1d672cb77c0b02928dd7b9c6b3ab2f358e22c6bcaf
ed37c8df2d419573539d6d59d1da8aa3a393be7ce73be68b50998cd7c1eb6774

Detection & response playbook

Malicious package
  1. Find it

    Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for exam-kit (4 malicious versions).

  2. If you installed it — respond

    Remove exam-kit 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.

  3. Did it already run?

    If exam-kit 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. exam-kit on npm has been identified as a malicious package (versions 1.0.0, 1.0.1, 1.0.2, 1.0.3 flagged). It should be removed immediately — do not install or keep it in your dependency tree.

Campaign

GHSA-3g8c-37c3-75vvIN-MAL-2026-018457IN-MAL-2026-018456IN-MAL-2026-018481IN-MAL-2026-018483

References

Credits

  • Amazon Inspector · finder

Detect & block this

O3 blocks exam-kit-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.

Explore

exam-kit (npm) malicious package — MAL-2026-14331 | O3 Security