Roblox Developers Targeted in Year-Long NPM Supply Chain Attack
Taipei,Taiwan – A year-long campaign targeting Roblox developers through malicious npm packageshas been uncovered by security researchers at Checkmarx. The attackers have been distributing numerous counterfeit npm packages designed to mimic legitimate JavaScript libraries used by Roblox developers, withthe aim of stealing sensitive information or compromising systems.
Roblox, a popular online gaming platform and game creation system, boasts over 200 million monthly activeusers and over 70 million daily active users. Its popularity among children and teenagers, coupled with its built-in social features and virtual currency, Robux, has made it a lucrative target for cybercriminals.
The attackers haveprimarily focused on imitating the noblox.js library, a popular JavaScript library specifically designed for Roblox developers. They have created malicious packages with names like noblox.js-async, noblox.js-thread, andnoblox.js-api, making them appear legitimate to unsuspecting developers. These malicious packages have been distributed through the npm software package management system, with dozens of such packages identified so far.
The malicious code embedded in these packages is designed to perform various harmful actions, including:
- Discord Token Theft:Stealing Discord tokens, which can grant attackers access to user accounts and sensitive information.
- System Information Access: Gathering sensitive system information, such as usernames, passwords, and other confidential data.
- Persistence Establishment: Establishing persistence on the compromised system, allowing the malware to execute automatically upon system startup.
- Deployment of Additional Malware: Deploying other forms of malware, potentially leading to further system compromise and data theft.
The malware’s ability to manipulate the Windows registry allows it to execute automatically whenever the user opens the Windows settings program, making it difficult to detect and remove.
Roblox’s popularity, the potential for developers to earn significant revenue, and the relative inexperience of many Roblox developers, particularly younger ones, have made it a prime target for social engineering attacks. Both Roblox and npm, being open platforms, are relatively easy for attackers to exploit.
While Checkmarx has repeatedly removed malicious npm packages,they continue to reappear, with some even remaining active in the npm registry. Furthermore, even after malicious packages are completely removed, the GitHub repositories used to host them remain active, posing a potential threat for future attacks.
This ongoing attack highlights the growing threat of supply chain attacks, particularly in the software development ecosystem.Developers need to be vigilant about the packages they install, verifying their authenticity and source before downloading them. Using reputable sources, keeping software updated, and implementing robust security practices are crucial steps in mitigating the risks of supply chain attacks.
As the attack continues, it is essential for Roblox, npm, and security researchersto work together to identify and remove malicious packages, educate developers about the risks, and strengthen security measures to protect the platform and its users.
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