Sigma rule: Axios NPM Compromise File Creation Indicators - MacOS

Rule

Title

Axios NPM Compromise File Creation Indicators - MacOS

Status

experimental

Level

high

Author

Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)

Date

2026-04-01

File

rules-emerging-threats/2026/Malware/Axios-NPM-Compromise/file_event_macos_axios_npm_compromise_indicators.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects file creation events linked to the Axios NPM supply chain compromise on macOS devices. Axios is a popular JavaScript HTTP client.
On March 30, 2026, malicious versions (1.14.1, 0.30.4) were published to npm, injecting a dependency ([email protected]) that executed a postinstall script as a cross-platform RAT dropper.

Log source

product

macos

category

file_event

Detection

selection_curl_download:
    Image|endswith: '/curl'
    TargetFilename: '/Library/Caches/com.apple.act.mond'
selection_node_shell:
    Image|endswith: '/node'
    TargetFilename: '/tmp/6202033'
condition: 1 of selection_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Highly unlikely

Tags

• attack.initial-access
• attack.t1195.002
• attack.command-and-control
• attack.t1105
• detection.emerging-threats

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1105
• T1195.002

References

• https://www.stepsecurity.io/blog/axios-compromised-on-npm-malicious-versions-drop-remote-access-trojan
• https://www.derp.ca/research/axios-npm-supply-chain-rat/
• https://www.trendmicro.com/zh_hk/research/26/c/axios-npm-package-compromised.html
• https://www.elastic.co/security-labs/axios-supply-chain-compromise-detections
• https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/e10b1fa84f1d6481625f741b69892780140d4e0e7769e7491e5f4d894c2e0e09

Read on 2026-11-03T00:58:21.399Z under licence sigma-drl-1.1@d5f4c36a from https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules-emerging-threats/2026/Malware/Axios-NPM-Compromise/file_event_macos_axios_npm_compromise_indicators.yml