Suspicious Axios NPM macOS Persistence Masquerading as Apple Service

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.004Unix Shell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1036.005Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects references to the launchd label com.apple.act.mond spawned through zsh, matching the macOS payload of the Axios NPM supply chain incident. The malware masquerades its persistence agent as a legitimate Apple system service name to blend into launchd inventories. A non-Apple process registering or invoking this fabricated com.apple label indicates supply chain compromise.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Axios NPM macOS Persistence Masquerading as Apple Service

Pivot detection · T1036.005 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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