{
  "modified": "2026-06-04T23:12:22Z",
  "published": "2026-05-26T00:59:30Z",
  "schema_version": "1.7.4",
  "id": "MAL-2026-4739",
  "summary": "Malicious code in zkjson (npm)",
  "details": "\n---\n_-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_\n\n## Source: amazon-inspector (758a19e42db66cf6ae7a08d462278b30e3a154b56613d2d95f8020de3add3816)\npackage.json declares `\"preinstall\": \"./.github/scripts/precheck\"`, pointing to a 976 KB Linux ELF executable (sha256 36abd242ddaa27f0160c539377a0e92cf781c1695137850acc87e3892b436d36) shipped inside the tarball at `.github/scripts/precheck`. The binary runs automatically with the installer's privileges on every `npm install`. The package self-describes as a pure-JS 'Zero Knowledge Provable JSON' library whose `main` exports only JS classes from `cjs/index.js`; there is no source, build script, documentation, or stated purpose justifying a native executable. Extracted strings indicate HTTP-client primitives (`HTTP/1.1`, `POST`, `GET`, `Host:`, `https://`) and OAuth-related tokens, consistent with a network-active payload. There is no version pinning, no hash verification, and no reproducible build path for the binary — the published bytes are the only artifact installers receive. Shipping an opaque networked ELF as a preinstall hook in a library that advertises no native component is the canonical install-time dropper shape and gives the publisher arbitrary code execution on every installer's machine.\n\n## Source: google-open-source-security (146faaf0d97c6a533a969bc3f3f117811f9317dc865ed4ab37f1679842ddeaae)\nThis package was compromised as part of the IronWorm campaign. This campaign executes a malicious binary payload during installation via a preinstall hook. The payload is a Rust-built infostealer that targets developer environments, scanning for and harvesting credentials related to cloud providers, object storage, databases, source-control, package registries, and AI developer tools. It also targets cryptocurrency wallets, specifically injecting a malicious JavaScript hook into the Exodus desktop wallet to capture passwords and recovery phrases. Furthermore, the malware exhibits worm-like behavior by stealing GitHub and NPM credentials to push malicious updates to the victim's repositories and publish trojanized packages, and it uses an eBPF-based kernel rootkit to hide its processes and network connections on Linux systems.\n",
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "npm",
        "name": "zkjson"
      },
      "versions": [
        "0.8.5"
      ],
      "database_specific": {
        "cwes": [
          {
            "cweId": "CWE-506",
            "description": "The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature.",
            "name": "Embedded Malicious Code"
          }
        ],
        "indicators": {
          "evidence_files": [
            {
              "path": ".github/scripts/precheck",
              "sha256": "36abd242ddaa27f0160c539377a0e92cf781c1695137850acc87e3892b436d36",
              "tlsh": "0c2533ab0025062b904d957a58963bd279c17c81afcc3662664dae742fb59c3cf63fc3"
            }
          ],
          "package_integrity": [
            {
              "filename": "zkjson-0.8.5.tgz",
              "hashes": {
                "sha1": "9eb45e87eaca9900daff4bb64dc0ca2cd2bd9ab4",
                "sha512_sri": "sha512-EHTv+P/2UWsYZ2z7NvlS9nJ9A0DTPYo/aWNDIGVIhKRKeFMXus83+Bg8b5Z1oyse2RlY402o/3HEJyjdOyJSMQ=="
              }
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://www.npmjs.com/package/zkjson/v/0.8.5"
    },
    {
      "type": "ARTICLE",
      "url": "http://www.ox.security/blog/ironworm-supply-chain-malware-hits-npm/"
    },
    {
      "type": "ARTICLE",
      "url": "https://research.jfrog.com/post/iron-worm-shai-hulud-rustier-cousin/"
    }
  ],
  "credits": [
    {
      "name": "Amazon Inspector",
      "type": "FINDER",
      "contact": [
        "actran@amazon.com"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "malicious-packages-origins": [
      {
        "source": "amazon-inspector",
        "sha256": "758a19e42db66cf6ae7a08d462278b30e3a154b56613d2d95f8020de3add3816",
        "import_time": "2026-05-26T05:53:19.583301181Z",
        "id": "IN-MAL-2026-004810",
        "modified_time": "2026-05-26T00:59:30Z",
        "versions": [
          "0.8.5"
        ]
      },
      {
        "source": "google-open-source-security",
        "sha256": "146faaf0d97c6a533a969bc3f3f117811f9317dc865ed4ab37f1679842ddeaae",
        "import_time": "2026-06-04T22:42:01.227855Z",
        "modified_time": "2026-06-04T22:28:51.769005667Z",
        "versions": [
          "0.8.5"
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}