tailwind-form-corenpm
Advisory published Updated
tailwind-form-core is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-18594) that typosquats a legitimate package to trick installs (malicious version 0.5.5). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in tailwind-form-core (npm)
What this malware does
The package's declared main entry src/index.js begins with eval(atob('<~50KB base64 blob>')) that runs on every require/import. Decoding the string-array reveals node:http/https, node:child_process (spawn), '[eval]', stdin.write, and Ethereum RPC calls (eth_blockNumber, eth_getTransactionCount, eth_getBlockByNumber) issued to publicnode.com and drpc.org, plus Blockscout txlist queries ('/api?module=account&action=txlist'). The loader retrieves attacker-controlled payload data from these blockchain/dead-drop endpoints and executes it by piping into a spawned 'node -e' child process, yielding arbitrary code execution on the consumer host whenever the module is loaded. The payload destinations are concealed through obfuscator.io-style string-array + base64 wrapping with runtime index decoders (_0x5c1d/_0xa42d). The legitimate @tailwindcss/forms plugin source (plugin.withOptions(...)) is appended after the eval() so the package appears functional. package.json impersonates Tailwind Labs by falsifying repository to 'tailwindlabs/tailwindcss-forms' and author to '@tailwindcss', while the real package name 'tailwind-form-core' is a lookalike of the official '@tailwindcss/forms'.
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
TyposquatFind it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for tailwind-form-core (version 0.5.5).
If you installed it — respond
tailwind-form-core is a typosquat — you almost certainly intended a legitimately-named package. Remove tailwind-form-core, install the correct package, and rotate any secrets exposed during the install since post-install scripts may have already run.
Did it already run?
If tailwind-form-core 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 tailwind-form-core-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.