// #rat
5 articles
QLNX Linux RAT Harvests Developer Credentials to Enable Malicious Package Publishing on npm and PyPI
Trend Micro researchers have identified QLNX (Quasar Linux), a Linux-targeting remote access trojan specifically designed to harvest developer credentials — npm tokens, PyPI upload credentials, AWS IAM keys, Docker registry credentials, and GitHub CLI tokens — from developer workstations. The harvested credentials are then used to publish malicious packages to npm and PyPI under the compromised developer's identity, enabling second-stage supply chain attacks against the developer's downstream users.
EtherRAT Uses Ethereum Blockchain Transactions as Immutable C2 Channel — Campaign Targeting Government and Finance
Researchers have disclosed EtherRAT, a remote access trojan that encodes command-and-control instructions directly into Ethereum blockchain transactions, creating a C2 channel that cannot be taken down, domain-blocked, or sinkholed. Active campaigns have targeted government and financial organisations in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
DPRK Scales npm Malware Campaign With AI-Generated Code, Fake Tech Firms, and Remote RAT Deployment
North Korean threat actors have launched a new wave of npm supply chain attacks using AI-generated malicious package code that bypasses static analysis tools, fake software development firms as cover identities, and a multi-stage RAT that exfiltrates source code, cryptographic keys, and credentials from developer workstations. The campaign targets blockchain, DeFi, and fintech developers — organisations in these sectors should audit npm dependencies and developer machine security.
DPRK's Sapphire Sleet Backdoors Axios npm Package: 100 Million Weekly Downloads at Risk
North Korea's Sapphire Sleet compromised an axios npm maintainer account on March 31, publishing backdoored versions 1.14.1 and 0.30.4 that delivered a cross-platform RAT during a three-hour exposure window. Axios has approximately 100 million weekly downloads. CISA issued Advisory AA26-110A on April 20 — organisations that ran npm installs during the window should treat their CI/CD pipeline as compromised and rotate all secrets immediately.
DPRK's Contagious Interview Campaign Spreads 1,700+ Malicious Packages Across Five Ecosystems
North Korea's UNC1069 (BlueNoroff) threat group has expanded its Contagious Interview supply chain operation to five package registries — npm, PyPI, Go Modules, crates.io, and Packagist — publishing more than 1,700 malicious packages that deliver a cross-platform infostealer and RAT. The operation is the largest coordinated open-source supply chain attack attributed to a nation-state actor.