swift-optimizernpm
Advisory published Updated
swift-optimizer is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-4677) that executes malicious code on install (malicious version 1.1.0). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in swift-optimizer (npm)
What this malware does
On npm install, [email protected] runs scripts/install-binary.js as a postinstall hook. The script is a hand-rolled JavaScript bytecode VM (~123 KB) with a base64-encoded constant pool that hides all install-time behavior — platform detection, network I/O, environment reads, file writes — from source-level scanners. Decoded behavior:
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Dropper: fetches a binary from https://telemetry021312.blob.core.windows.net/share/?v=<checksum> using a spoofed Edge User-Agent, writes it to bin/swift-optimizer-<arch>(.exe), and chmods 0755. The destination is anonymous Azure blob storage; the URL is unpinned and the bytes are not hash-verified. The destination domain has no relationship to the package's stated author/homepage. The package's main
OptimizerAPI is wired to invoke this binary at runtime. -
Targeted-victim guardrail: getVersionChecksum reads process.env.USERDNSDOMAIN, USERDOMAIN, USERDOMAIN_ROAMINGPROFILE, os.hostname(), and an internal-IP lookup, SHA-256-hashes them, and only proceeds if the digest matches one of three hardcoded values (GUARDRAIL_DIGESTS = ['9aee64bc...','1e0ad8d7...','680326dc...']). This restricts execution to pre-identified victim organizations.
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Sandbox evasion: localTestenvCheck issues an HTTPS HEAD to the RFC1918 address https://10.100.135.17/ with rejectUnauthorized:false and inspects ECONNRESET/error signals to determine whether the host is on a real corporate LAN vs. an analyst sandbox; also checks process.env.CI.
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Anti-debug: process.hrtime.bigint() timing checks set a 'deception detected' flag if execution is slowed by a debugger.
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Cover-story metadata: package.json author 'Bob Smith' with throwaway GitHub URL bobsmith012545/swift-optimizer and homepage releases.swift-optimizer.io — placeholder publisher consistent with a single-purpose attack package.
The combination of an unpinned anonymous-host binary drop, victim-domain hash allowlisting, RFC1918 sandbox probing, anti-debug, and bespoke bytecode-VM obfuscation has no legitimate explanation. This is a targeted supply-chain dropper.
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
Malicious packageFind it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for swift-optimizer (version 1.1.0).
If you installed it — respond
Remove swift-optimizer 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.
Did it already run?
If swift-optimizer 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 swift-optimizer-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.