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
Suspicious Child Process Spawned by Python Interpreter via Process Creation
Suspicious npm Postinstall Node Execution From Fixtures Path (BeaverTail OtterCookie)
Suspicious TrueConf Update Chain Spawning Temporary Executable in Operation TrueChaos
Malicious TeamPCP durabletask Payload python3 managed.pyz from tmp (via process_creation)
Malicious PowerShell Download from bullethost.cloud Staging Server
Suspicious NPM Install Hook Executing Setup Script via Node
Suspicious Shai-Hulud Worm Stager Execution from Temp (via process_creation)
Suspicious Double Base64 Decoded Payload Piped to Shell in CI (reviewdog Supply Chain)
Suspicious Node.js Spawning PowerShell Archive Download to Temp
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.