postcss-semantic-themesnpm
Advisory published Updated
postcss-semantic-themes is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-18334) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious versions 1.0.0, 1.0.1). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in postcss-semantic-themes (npm)
What this malware does
The package advertises itself as a zero-runtime CSS theming kit but on require/import executes a chain of obfuscated JavaScript modules. lib.mjs imports tokens.mjs, which top-level imports cache-warm.mjs — a ~279KB single-line file consisting of a hex-named string array of XOR/base64-encoded blobs decoded at runtime. Three additional sibling modules of the same shape (build-cache.mjs ~203KB, cache-sweep.mjs ~295KB, workspaces.js ~290KB) are shipped and listed in the published files manifest. Alongside the JavaScript loader, the tarball bundles prebuilt N-API native binaries at native/{linux,darwin,win32}/{arm64,x64}/cache-probe.node whose exported symbols implement extensive hypervisor, container, and sandbox detection (VMDetect/VMDetector classes, hypervisor_bit, qemu_fw_cfg, systemd_virt, dockerenv, bluestacks, vbox_module, podman_file, wsl_proc_subdir, amd_sev_msr, azure, chassis_vendor, mac_address_check, is_x86_process_on_arm). None of this has any role in CSS custom-property emission. The README instructs installation as npm install -D tailwindcss@npm:postcss-semantic-themes, aliasing the legitimate tailwindcss name onto this package so existing import 'tailwindcss' call sites resolve to the obfuscated loader. The combination of an import-time obfuscated loader, multiple additional staged obfuscated payloads, environment-fingerprinting native code to gate execution to non-analyst hosts, and a brandjacking install instruction is the structural shape of a staged supply-chain payload rather than a theming plugin.
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 postcss-semantic-themes (2 malicious versions).
If you installed it — respond
postcss-semantic-themes 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 postcss-semantic-themes 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 postcss-semantic-themes-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the credential exfiltration and severs the channel.