exam-kit

{"schema_version":"1.7.4","id":"MAL-2026-14331","published":"2026-08-20T18:15:34Z","modified":"2026-08-20T21:45:10.497462797Z","aliases":["GHSA-3g8c-37c3-75vv"],"summary":"Malicious code in exam-kit (npm)","details":"\n---\n_-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_\n\n## Source: amazon-inspector (29cd95c1b59238861675a30a947648a2280420c11e53dcb4f8501db5cb736313)\nOn any require/import of exam-kit, the main entry runs a top-level await that reads an out-of-package file at../../../../public/logo.ico, DES-decrypts it using a hardcoded key ('bf497c0b9cee'), and pipes the plaintext into a detached `node` child process via stdin (spawn('node', [], {detached:true, stdio:['pipe','ignore','ignore']}); stdin.write(rsaDecrypted); unref()). The decrypted bytes are opaque code executed on the installer's host with no integrity check. The loader hides its purpose with cover-story naming: a variable named `rsaDecrypted` actually holds DES-decrypted content, the function `readLogoIco` treats an.ico asset as ciphertext, and errors are logged as 'ThetaSDK initialization error' — unrelated to the package's stated exam-session purpose. The path-traversal source (../../../../public/logo.ico), hardcoded symmetric key, misleading log strings, and detached/unref'd spawn are dropper-loader characteristics rather than legitimate library behavior.\n\n## Source: ghsa-malware (e817468936bfd06bc41640b486d0d044e5934bb8e7653bd97340efd4920d8b7a)\nAny computer that has this package installed or running should be considered fully compromised. All secrets and keys stored on that computer should be rotated immediately from a different computer. The package should be removed, but as full control of the computer may have been given to an outside entity, there is no guarantee that removing the package will remove all malicious software resulting from installing it.\n","affected":[{"package":{"name":"exam-kit","ecosystem":"npm"},"ranges":[{"type":"SEMVER","events":[{"introduced":"0"}]}],"versions":["1.0.2","1.0.3","1.0.1","1.0.0"],"database_specific":{"cwes":[{"cweId":"CWE-506","description":"The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature.","name":"Embedded Malicious Code"},{"cweId":"CWE-506","description":"The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature.","name":"Embedded Malicious Code"},{"cweId":"CWE-506","description":"The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature.","name":"Embedded Malicious Code"},{"cweId":"CWE-506","description":"The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature.","name":"Embedded Malicious Code"},{"cweId":"CWE-506","description":"The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature.","name":"Embedded Malicious Code"}],"indicators":{"evidence_files":[{"path":"src/api/session-api.js","sha256":"cf29504ad8e42e0e8a4db39c7365c27d57bbdd56ff69fad541fadddb904333d7","tlsh":"39c1f25c2c03e12757f0e3bd4e32c454eb735a913b119aa1faac77a12fa94d06532ed8"}]}}}],"references":[{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-3g8c-37c3-75vv"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://www.npmjs.com/package/exam-kit/v/1.0.2"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://www.npmjs.com/package/exam-kit/v/1.0.3"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://www.npmjs.com/package/exam-kit/v/1.0.1"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://www.npmjs.com/package/exam-kit/v/1.0.0"}],"database_specific":{"malicious-packages-origins":[{"id":"GHSA-3g8c-37c3-75vv","import_time":"2026-08-20T18:26:05.013142318Z","modified_time":"2026-08-20T18:15:37Z","ranges":[{"events":[{"introduced":"0"}],"type":"SEMVER"}],"sha256":"e817468936bfd06bc41640b486d0d044e5934bb8e7653bd97340efd4920d8b7a","source":"ghsa-malware"},{"id":"IN-MAL-2026-018457","import_time":"2026-08-20T20:45:13.273120603Z","modified_time":"2026-08-20T20:43:35Z","sha256":"29cd95c1b59238861675a30a947648a2280420c11e53dcb4f8501db5cb736313","source":"amazon-inspector","versions":["1.0.2"]},{"id":"IN-MAL-2026-018456","import_time":"2026-08-20T20:45:13.160789894Z","modified_time":"2026-08-20T20:43:26Z","sha256":"9c8686f2b1b56288a38507e0762a3d9bb6ea475e7b09745bbf41f1df975513df","source":"amazon-inspector","versions":["1.0.3"]},{"id":"IN-MAL-2026-018481","import_time":"2026-08-20T21:43:26.841562755Z","modified_time":"2026-08-20T21:17:03Z","sha256":"3ff4b1030975db1007de0f1d672cb77c0b02928dd7b9c6b3ab2f358e22c6bcaf","source":"amazon-inspector","versions":["1.0.1"]},{"id":"IN-MAL-2026-018483","import_time":"2026-08-20T21:43:26.972078307Z","modified_time":"2026-08-20T21:17:24Z","sha256":"ed37c8df2d419573539d6d59d1da8aa3a393be7ce73be68b50998cd7c1eb6774","source":"amazon-inspector","versions":["1.0.0"]}]},"credits":[{"name":"Amazon Inspector","contact":["inspector-research@amazon.com"],"type":"FINDER"}]}