Sigma rule: Axios NPM Compromise File Creation Indicators - Windows

Rule

Title

Axios NPM Compromise File Creation Indicators - Windows

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_win_axios_npm_compromise_indicators.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects file creation events linked to the Axios NPM supply chain compromise. 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.
The dropper contacted a C2 server, delivered platform-specific payloads, deleted itself, and replaced package.json to evade detection.
The attack used cscript.exe (VBScript), curl.exe (C2), and PowerShell masquerading as Windows Terminal.

Log source

product

windows

category

file_event

Detection

selection_img:
    Image|endswith:
        - '\node.exe'
        - '\powershell.exe'
selection_fils:
    - TargetFilename:
          - 'C:\ProgramData\wt.exe'
          - 'C:\ProgramData\system.bat'
    - TargetFilename|contains|all:
          - 'C:\Users\'
          - '\AppData\Local\Temp\6202033.vbs'
    - TargetFilename|contains|all:
          - 'C:\Users\'
          - '\AppData\Local\Temp\6202033.ps1'
condition: all of selection_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Highly unlikely

Tags

• attack.initial-access
• attack.t1195.002
• detection.emerging-threats

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• 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_win_axios_npm_compromise_indicators.yml