Malicious code in @cats-cdf/authentication (npm)
The npm package @cats-cdf/authentication contained malicious code in its preinstall lifecycle script that exfiltrated installer system information (username, hostname, public IP) to an attacker-controlled domain. The package was identified and reported by OpenSSF's malicious-packages project.
- Disclosed
- Last updated
- Blast radius
- All npm users who installed @cats-cdf/authentication during the malicious period
- Ecosystems
- Attack vectors
- Affected entities
- @cats-cdf/authenticationnpm package with malicious preinstall script
The npm package @cats-cdf/authentication was found to contain malicious code embedded in its preinstall lifecycle script. This script executes automatically during npm install without any legitimate package functionality justifying its presence.\n\nThe malicious script performs reconnaissance by collecting sensitive system information from the installer's machine: local username (via whoami), hostname, and public IP address (fetched from ifconfig.me). This data is then transmitted as query-string parameters in an HTTP GET request to a hardcoded subdomain of oast.fun (kwphewvexhjbtfduscqybx6q7c862eh0g.oast.fun).\n\noast.fun is a known out-of-band interaction and callback service commonly used for reconnaissance and exfiltration in supply chain attacks. The behavior fires automatically on default install with no relation to any documented package purpose, indicating intentional malicious activity.\n\nThe incident was identified and credited to the OpenSSF's malicious-packages project (GitHub advisory GHSA-cgq2-qp6c-q4rm).
Indicators of compromise
- Packages
- @cats-cdf/authentication
- Domains
- kwphewvexhjbtfduscqybx6q7c862eh0g.oast.fun
- oast.fun
Remediation
- Remove @cats-cdf/authentication from all projects immediately
- Audit npm install logs to identify if the package was installed in your environment
- If installed, assume system information (username, hostname, IP) was exfiltrated and monitor for suspicious activity
- Review npm audit output and use npm security tools to detect similar malicious packages
- Consider using npm package signing verification and supply chain security tools to prevent future incidents
Sources
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-cgq2-qp6c-q4rm · GitHub Advisory Database
Cite this entry
"Malicious code in @cats-cdf/authentication (npm)." supplychainattack.org, Supply Chain Attack Incident Catalog. Disclosed August 7, 2026; last updated August 7, 2026. https://supplychainattack.org/incident/malicious-code-in-cats-cdf-authentication-npm-57onr2
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