Beyond eval(): DPRK’s New Malware Strategy Hidden in Job Assignments

2025-10-21 KL4R10N

https://kl4r10n.tech/blog/dprk-new-malware

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A DPRK-linked recruiter lure targeted Web3 developers through LinkedIn messages, a Notion assignment, and a public GitLab project that executed a multi-stage Node.js implant when cloned and run locally. The loader fetched attacker-controlled JavaScript from Chainlink-themed typosquat infrastructure, first chainlink-api-v3[.]cloud and later chainlink-api-v3[.]com, then used dynamic execution to start host fingerprinting, VM checks, socket.io C2, and clipboard theft. Follow-on payloads installed runtime dependencies, opened interactive command execution, deployed a keylogger, and recursively searched for wallets, environment files, documents, and other developer secrets for exfiltration to 172[.]86[.]116[.]178. The campaign matters because it embeds malware delivery inside a routine developer workflow and specifically increases the chance of stealing Web3 credentials, wallets, and cloud secrets from targeted candidates.

Indicators of Compromise

Type Value First Seen Last Seen
DOMAIN chainlink-api-v3.com 2025-10-21 2026-03-23
HASH b2040f01294c183945fdbe487022cf8e 2025-10-21 2026-02-19
DOMAIN chainlink-api-v3.cloud 2025-04-11 2026-02-19
IPv4 172.86.116.178 2025-10-21 2026-02-03
YARA Node_Beyond_eval_Contagious_Int… 2025-10-21 2025-10-21
URL http://chainlink-api-v3.com 2025-10-21 2025-10-21
URL https://chainlink-api-v3.cloud 2025-10-21 2025-10-21

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