Detection rules › Sigma
Axios NPM Compromise File Creation Indicators - Windows
Detects file creation events linked to the Axios NPM supply chain compromise. Axios is a popular JavaScript HTTP client. On March 30, 2026, malicious versions (1.14.1, 0.30.4) were published to npm, injecting a dependency (plain-crypto-js@4.2.1) that executed a postinstall script as a cross-platform RAT dropper. The dropper contacted a C2 server, delivered platform-specific payloads, deleted itself, and replaced package.json to evade detection. The attack used cscript.exe (VBScript), curl.exe (C2), and PowerShell masquerading as Windows Terminal.
MITRE ATT&CK coverage
| Tactic | Techniques |
|---|---|
| Initial Access | T1195.002 Supply Chain Compromise: Compromise Software Supply Chain |
Event coverage
| Provider | Event | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Sysmon | Event ID 11 | FileCreate |
Rule body yaml
title: Axios NPM Compromise File Creation Indicators - Windows
id: cd6386fa-bb9a-4b67-b006-786b6ab5d2ba
status: experimental
description: |
Detects file creation events linked to the Axios NPM supply chain compromise. Axios is a popular JavaScript HTTP client.
On March 30, 2026, malicious versions (1.14.1, 0.30.4) were published to npm, injecting a dependency (plain-crypto-js@4.2.1) that executed a postinstall script as a cross-platform RAT dropper.
The dropper contacted a C2 server, delivered platform-specific payloads, deleted itself, and replaced package.json to evade detection.
The attack used cscript.exe (VBScript), curl.exe (C2), and PowerShell masquerading as Windows Terminal.
references:
- https://www.stepsecurity.io/blog/axios-compromised-on-npm-malicious-versions-drop-remote-access-trojan
- https://www.derp.ca/research/axios-npm-supply-chain-rat/
- https://www.trendmicro.com/zh_hk/research/26/c/axios-npm-package-compromised.html
- https://www.elastic.co/security-labs/axios-supply-chain-compromise-detections
- https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/e10b1fa84f1d6481625f741b69892780140d4e0e7769e7491e5f4d894c2e0e09
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2026-04-01
tags:
- attack.initial-access
- attack.t1195.002
- detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
category: file_event
product: windows
detection:
selection_img:
Image|endswith:
- '\node.exe'
- '\powershell.exe'
selection_fils:
- TargetFilename:
- 'C:\ProgramData\wt.exe'
- 'C:\ProgramData\system.bat'
- TargetFilename|contains|all:
- 'C:\Users\'
- '\AppData\Local\Temp\6202033.vbs'
- TargetFilename|contains|all:
- 'C:\Users\'
- '\AppData\Local\Temp\6202033.ps1'
condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Highly unlikely
level: high
Stages and Predicates
Stage 0: condition
all of selection_*Stage 1: selection_img
selection_img:
Image|endswith:
- '\node.exe'
- '\powershell.exe'
Stage 2: selection_fils
selection_fils:
- TargetFilename:
- 'C:\ProgramData\wt.exe'
- 'C:\ProgramData\system.bat'
- TargetFilename|contains|all:
- 'C:\Users\'
- '\AppData\Local\Temp\6202033.vbs'
- TargetFilename|contains|all:
- 'C:\Users\'
- '\AppData\Local\Temp\6202033.ps1'
Indicators
Each row is a field, operator, and value that the rule matches. The corpus column counts how many other rules in the catalog look for the same combination: high numbers point to widely-used, community-vetted indicators. Blank or 1 shows that the indicator is specific to this rule.
| Field | Kind | Values |
|---|---|---|
Image | ends_with |
|
TargetFilename | eq |
|
TargetFilename | match |
|