Detection rules › Sigma

Axios NPM Compromise Malicious C2 Domain DNS Query

Status
experimental
Severity
high
Log source
category dns
Author
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects DNS queries for the malicious C2 domain associated with the plain-crypto-js/Axios npm package supply chain compromise. 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. This detection detects endpoints attempting to resolve the attacker's C2 domain (sfrclak.com) used for command and control communication.

MITRE ATT&CK coverage

Rule body yaml

title: Axios NPM Compromise Malicious C2 Domain DNS Query
id: 73e5d24f-493f-4092-bd2f-c72cabda40ee
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects DNS queries for the malicious C2 domain associated with the plain-crypto-js/Axios npm package supply chain compromise.
    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.
    This detection detects endpoints attempting to resolve the attacker's C2 domain (sfrclak.com) used for command and control communication.
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
    - https://www.huntress.com/blog/supply-chain-compromise-axios-npm-package
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2026-04-01
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1071.001
    - attack.t1568
    - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
    category: dns
detection:
    selection:
        query:
            - 'sfrclak.com'
            - 'calltan.com'
            - 'callnrwise.com'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    query:
        - 'sfrclak.com'
        - 'calltan.com'
        - 'callnrwise.com'

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.

FieldKindValues
queryeq
  • callnrwise.com
  • calltan.com
  • sfrclak.com