Ethical Hacking News
Next.js developers have been targeted in a wave of attacks using malicious "Interview" repos that seed secret-stealing malware on developer machines. To protect themselves, developers should prioritize visibility into unusual Node execution and follow-on discovery or upload behavior originating from development machines.
Malicious Next.js projects have been discovered with secret-stealing malware targeting developer machines. The malware uses various methods to execute on developer machines, including Visual Studio Code's workspace automation feature and npm. The attacks are designed to take advantage of Next.js developers' normal working routine and can lead to a wider impact on an organization if one employee completes the malicious tasks. Defenders should prioritize monitoring unusual Node execution, unexpected outbound connections, and follow-on discovery or upload behavior originating from development machines. The importance of educating developers about the risks associated with using open-source software and downloading code from untrusted sources is highlighted. Organizations should review their developer security policies and procedures to protect employees' machines and data, including implementing guidelines for software downloads and ensuring up-to-date development environments.
Next.js developers, a group of individuals who spend countless hours honing their skills on one of the most popular React-based frameworks for building web applications, have been targeted by hackers in a recent wave of attacks. According to Microsoft's research team, malicious repositories disguised as legitimate Next.js projects have been seeded with secret-stealing malware that targets developer machines.
These malicious repositories are cleverly designed to look like they belong to the Next.js community, complete with project names and descriptions that mimic those found on the official GitHub repository for Next.js. However, once a developer clones or downloads one of these repositories, their machine is compromised with malicious code that can steal sensitive information, including source code, secrets, and even cloud resources.
The malware, which we can refer to as "Interview" repos (a nod to the cleverly disguised project names), uses various methods to execute on developer machines. One common method involves abusing Visual Studio Code's workspace automation feature to load files as soon as the developer opens the project, allowing the malware to run before it is even noticed. Another method involves using npm to run the project's development server, which loads malicious logic into the application.
The attacks are cleverly designed to take advantage of Next.js developers' normal working routine. For example, some projects abuse Visual Studio Code's workspace automation feature to load files as soon as the dev opens and trusts the project. Other variants retrieve a JavaScript loader from Vercel (a cloud hosting platform for web applications) and execute it using Node.js, then begin beaming back data to attacker-controlled command-and-control (C2) infrastructure.
Once the malware is loaded onto a developer's machine, it can establish a connection with the attacker's C2 infrastructure. This allows the attackers to receive instructions from their end servers, as well as transmit stolen data back to the attackers' systems. In some cases, the malware can even be controlled remotely, allowing the attackers to shut down or kill the malicious processes running on the compromised machine.
Microsoft warns that these attacks are not just limited to individual developer machines but can also have a wider impact on an organization if one of its employees completes the malicious tasks on their corporate machine. This could open up the entire company to a compromise, as the malware can potentially spread from machine to machine through network connections.
The key takeaway here is that defenders should treat developer workflows as a primary attack surface and prioritize visibility into unusual Node execution, unexpected outbound connections, and follow-on discovery or upload behavior originating from development machines. By being vigilant and proactive in monitoring these areas, developers and organizations can reduce their risk of falling victim to these malicious "Interview" repos.
Furthermore, Microsoft's research highlights the importance of educating developers about the risks associated with using open-source software and the dangers of downloading code from untrusted sources. Developers should always be cautious when downloading projects or libraries from GitHub, especially those that seem too good (or bad) to be true.
In light of these attacks, it is essential for organizations to review their developer security policies and procedures to ensure they are adequately protecting their employees' machines and data. This includes implementing strict guidelines for software downloads, ensuring all development environments are up-to-date with the latest security patches, and educating developers about the risks associated with using open-source software.
In conclusion, Next.js developers have been targeted by hackers in a recent wave of attacks that use malicious repositories disguised as legitimate projects to steal sensitive information from developer machines. By understanding the tactics used by these attackers and taking proactive measures to secure their development workflows, developers and organizations can reduce their risk of falling victim to these threats.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Nextjs-Developers-Under-Siege-The-Rise-of-Malicious-Interview-Repos-and-the-Threat-to-Developer-Security-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2026/02/25/jobseeking_nextjs_devs_attack/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/software-development/fake-interview-repos-lure-next-js-devs-into-running-secret-stealing-malware/ar-AA1X3MRe
https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/north-korean-job-scammers-target-javascript-and-python-developers-with-fake-interview-tasks-spreading-malware
Published: Wed Feb 25 12:06:59 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
