huntrule

Windows Process Creation: npm install for Shai-Hulud 2.0 Malicious Package Names and Versions

Alert on Windows node.exe running npm install with command-line package/version strings known from the Shai-Hulud 2.0 npm campaign.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2025-11-28
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Initial Access

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies Windows command-line executions where node.exe runs an npm install command containing specific package names and version strings tied to the Shai-Hulud 2.0 supply-chain campaign. Attackers may use these package installs to deliver malicious code during dependency installation. The detection relies on process creation telemetry with the process image filename (ending in \node.exe) and command-line contents that include both npm install markers and one of the enumerated package@version indicators.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1195.002 — drag to rearrange
Malicious Shai-Hulud Self-Hosted GitHub Runner Registration via Process Creation
Suspicious Google Workspace OAuth Authorization for Chrome Web Store Scope via Token Audit
Malicious Shai-Hulud npm Worm Marker via SHA1HULUD Process Name (via process_creation)
Malicious Shai-Hulud Self-Hosted GitHub Actions Runner Named SHA1HULUD (via process_creation)
Suspicious npm Package Spawning cURL Download via Process Creation
Suspicious Child Process Spawned by Notepad++ Updater GUP
Suspicious Execution From Hidden fonts-unix Directory in tmp on Linux
Suspicious Malicious MCP Package devtools-assistant Execution (via process_creation)
Suspicious Bun Runtime Spawned by Node During npm Lifecycle
Windows Process Creation: npm install for Shai-Hulud 2.0 Malicious Package Names and Versions
Pivot detection · T1195.002 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
  1. v5
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v4
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. v3
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  4. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  5. v1
    No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

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