Malicious code in syjoy (npm)
The npm package syjoy contains malicious code that silently installs Python 3.12, harvests user data (keyboard input, clipboard, screenshots, UI text), and provides remote control via a hardcoded endpoint. The payload is designed to facilitate exam/interview cheating by capturing sensitive information and injecting automated input.
- Disclosed
- Last updated
- Blast radius
- npm ecosystem; any system installing syjoy package
- Ecosystems
- Attack vectors
- Affected entities
- syjoynpm package advertised as 'System binary configuration tool'
The npm package syjoy was identified as containing malicious code by Amazon Inspector. The package falsely advertises itself as a 'System binary configuration tool' but ships a Python payload (pointer.py) designed to harvest sensitive user data and enable remote control of the host system.
On first invocation, the package's index.js silently installs Python 3.12 via winget or a direct download from python.org, then launches pointer.py through start_tool.vbs with elevated privileges and hidden windows. The Python script registers global keyboard hooks, reads clipboard contents via pyperclip, captures screenshots via mss/ImageGrab, and extracts text from other applications' UI Automation trees.
All harvested data is exfiltrated to a hardcoded endpoint at https://new-pointer.vercel.app/api. The remote server responds with commands that are executed on the host through pyautogui/keyboard automation, allowing arbitrary text injection into focused windows. The Tk UI is configured to remain hidden with transparent/overlay attributes and blanked window titles.
Internal mode names (aptitude, dsa, fullstack, aws, ocr) indicate the true purpose is facilitating exam or interview cheating through covert data capture and automated input injection, not legitimate system configuration.
Indicators of compromise
- Packages
- syjoy
- Domains
- new-pointer.vercel.app
Remediation
- Immediately uninstall the syjoy npm package from all systems
- Audit npm package.json files and lock files for any dependency on syjoy
- Revoke any credentials or sensitive data that may have been exposed while syjoy was installed
- Review system logs for evidence of Python 3.12 installation and pointer.py execution
- Block outbound connections to new-pointer.vercel.app at the network level
- Scan systems for remnants of Python 3.12 installations and pointer.py files installed by syjoy
- Review clipboard history and screenshots for sensitive data exposure
- Consider this a critical incident if syjoy was installed on systems handling sensitive information or during security assessments
Sources
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-h63h-46qm-72xr · GitHub Advisory Database
Cite this entry
"Malicious code in syjoy (npm)." supplychainattack.org, Supply Chain Attack Incident Catalog. Disclosed August 19, 2026; last updated August 19, 2026. https://supplychainattack.org/incident/malicious-code-in-syjoy-npm-1indfg
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