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MalwareUsed by 2 actors

MicrosoftSystem64

MicrosoftSystem64 is a cross-platform remote access trojan (RAT) delivered through malicious npm packages in a software supply-chain campaign. Reporting describes it as an 81 MB Node.js Single Executable Application (SEA) binary deployed via poisoned packages including js-logger-pack and additional publisher/package clusters such as terminal-logger-utils, ts-logger-pack, pretty-logger-utils, and pinno-loggers. The package abuse included a postinstall-based downloader that fetched platform-specific MicrosoftSystem64 binaries from the Hugging Face repository Lordplay/system-releases.

The malware targets Windows, macOS, and Linux. It establishes persistence across all three platforms: on Windows via scheduled tasks and Run/registry keys, on macOS via LaunchAgents, and on Linux via systemd user services or XDG autostart entries. It sets its process title to MicrosoftSystem64 to resemble a legitimate Microsoft background service, connects to a hard-coded controller at 195.201.194.107:8010 over WebSocket and HTTP, and supports a typed task protocol with 24 remote commands. Reported capabilities include arbitrary file read/write and directory operations, recursive file scanning, deployment of additional binaries, self-update, browser session clearing, and reconnection/retry logic after interruptions.

Its collection and theft behavior is extensive. High-confidence reporting states that it steals browser credentials and targets credentials from 15 browser families, steals data from more than 80 cryptocurrency wallet extensions, hijacks Telegram Desktop sessions/tdata, copies SSH keys, logs keystrokes, monitors the clipboard, captures screenshots every 60 seconds, and scans files for secrets. It can also force browser reauthentication by clearing sessions while keylogging remains active.

A notable feature is its abuse of Hugging Face for both payload delivery and exfiltration. The malware checks Hugging Face for updates, downloads binaries without signature or checksum validation, and uploads stolen data to private Hugging Face datasets controlled by the attacker. Reporting states each victim may receive separate private datasets organized by machine identity and data category, and that outbound traffic blends in as legitimate authenticated HTTPS API activity. The active exfiltration account was reported as jpeek998, created on 2026-05-15. The malware also maintained local upload state and resumed failed uploads automatically.

The campaign was documented by SafeDep and independently confirmed by JFrog. SafeDep reported live victim monitoring and recovered hundreds of screenshots from real victims as of 2026-05-28. OSV tracked the malicious npm package family as MAL-2026-2827. Attribution in the provided reporting links the operation to the North Korea-connected Contagious Interview threat group; separate social reporting also associated it with Famous Chollima/DPRK themes. The campaign specifically targeted developers through malicious open-source packages in the npm ecosystem.

Known indicators directly mentioned in the content include controller 195.201.194.107:8010, Hugging Face repository Lordplay/system-releases, exfiltration account jpeek998, and platform-specific payload names MicrosoftSystem64-win.exe, MicrosoftSystem64-darwin-x64, MicrosoftSystem64-darwin-arm64, and MicrosoftSystem64-linux. Reported hashes include SEA blob SHA-256 46b9522ba2dc757ac00a513dbd98b28babb018eae92347f2cbc3c7a5020872b5 and embedded JavaScript payload SHA-256 1c83019b52be6da9583d28fe934441a74eacef0cd7dbb9d71017122de6fe7cfc.

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THREAT ACTORS

Groups observed using it

2 distinct threat actors attributed by public researchers. Open in Mallory to see the full evidence chain and overlapping campaigns.

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FamousChollima

"Inside MicrosoftSystem64: A Supply Chain RAT Exfiltrating to HuggingFace" published by SafeDep.

via lazarusholic blueskybsky.app
Contagious Interview

A newly discovered malware called MicrosoftSystem64 has been quietly stealing data from infected computers by routing stolen files through HuggingFace... Once a developer installs the package, it silently downloads and executes MicrosoftSystem64... The malware is a remote access trojan with sweeping capabilities.

via cyber security newscybersecuritynews.com
MITRE ATT&CK

Techniques & procedures

32 distinct techniques documented for this family, organized by ATT&CK tactic.

Initial Access

1 technique
T1195Supply Chain CompromiseEvidence5

Malware ... Inside MicrosoftSystem64: A Supply Chain RAT Exfiltrating to HuggingFace ... an 81 MB Node.js SEA binary deployed via malicious npm packages.

Execution

6 techniques
T1053Scheduled Task/JobEvidence1

Once installed, the malware digs in using the native persistence tools of each platform: scheduled tasks and registry keys on Windows, LaunchAgents on macOS, and systemd services with autostart entries on Linux.

T1053.005Scheduled TaskEvidence1

Baseline automatic behavior includes: persisting via scheduled task / Run key (Windows)

T1059Command and Scripting InterpreterEvidence1
TacticExecution

Once a developer installs the package, it silently downloads and executes MicrosoftSystem64, an 81 MB binary that runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS without needing any separate software pre-installed.

T1059.001PowerShellEvidence1
TacticExecution

Windows: compiles C# in-memory via PowerShell Add-Type to install a SetWindowsHookEx low-level keyboard hook

T1059.007JavaScriptEvidence1
TacticExecution

The malicious logic lives entirely inside the injected JavaScript bundle.

T1106Native APIEvidence1
TacticExecution

Windows: compiles C# in-memory via PowerShell Add-Type to install a SetWindowsHookEx low-level keyboard hook, with UIAAutomation-based password-field detection.

Persistence

7 techniques
T1053Scheduled Task/JobEvidence1

Once installed, the malware digs in using the native persistence tools of each platform: scheduled tasks and registry keys on Windows, LaunchAgents on macOS, and systemd services with autostart entries on Linux.

T1053.005Scheduled TaskEvidence1

Baseline automatic behavior includes: persisting via scheduled task / Run key (Windows)

T1543Create or Modify System ProcessEvidence1

Once installed, the malware digs in using the native persistence tools of each platform... and systemd services with autostart entries on Linux.

T1543.001Launch AgentEvidence2

Persistence — macOS ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.launchkeeper.MicrosoftSystem64.plist macOS LaunchAgent persistence path

T1543.002Systemd ServiceEvidence1

Baseline automatic behavior includes: persisting via scheduled task / Run key (Windows), LaunchAgent (macOS), or systemd user unit / XDG autostart (Linux)

T1547Boot or Logon Autostart ExecutionEvidence1

Baseline automatic behavior includes: persisting via scheduled task / Run key (Windows), LaunchAgent (macOS), or systemd user unit / XDG autostart (Linux)

T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup FolderEvidence2

Persistence — Windows \MicrosoftSystem64 (scheduled task); HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Windows persistence mechanisms used by the malware

T1053Scheduled Task/JobEvidence1

Once installed, the malware digs in using the native persistence tools of each platform: scheduled tasks and registry keys on Windows, LaunchAgents on macOS, and systemd services with autostart entries on Linux.

T1053.005Scheduled TaskEvidence1

Baseline automatic behavior includes: persisting via scheduled task / Run key (Windows)

T1543Create or Modify System ProcessEvidence1

Once installed, the malware digs in using the native persistence tools of each platform... and systemd services with autostart entries on Linux.

T1543.001Launch AgentEvidence2

Persistence — macOS ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.launchkeeper.MicrosoftSystem64.plist macOS LaunchAgent persistence path

T1543.002Systemd ServiceEvidence1

Baseline automatic behavior includes: persisting via scheduled task / Run key (Windows), LaunchAgent (macOS), or systemd user unit / XDG autostart (Linux)

T1547Boot or Logon Autostart ExecutionEvidence1

Baseline automatic behavior includes: persisting via scheduled task / Run key (Windows), LaunchAgent (macOS), or systemd user unit / XDG autostart (Linux)

T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup FolderEvidence2

Persistence — Windows \MicrosoftSystem64 (scheduled task); HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Windows persistence mechanisms used by the malware

Stealth

2 techniques
T1036MasqueradingEvidence1
TacticStealth

The malware disguises itself as a legitimate Microsoft process... It labels its own process as MicrosoftSystem64 in system listings, closely mimicking the appearance of a genuine Microsoft background service.

T1070.004File DeletionEvidence1
TacticStealth

clear_sessions - kill browser processes and destroy session/credential stores

Credential Access

4 techniques
T1056.001KeyloggingEvidence2

It targets credentials from 15 browser families... runs a continuous keylogger, and takes screenshots every 60 seconds.

T1528Steal Application Access TokenEvidence2

This RAT steals ... Telegram sessions

T1555Credentials from Password StoresEvidence2

This RAT steals browser credentials, 80+ crypto wallet extensions, Telegram sessions...

T1649Steal or Forge Authentication CertificatesEvidence3

This RAT steals browser credentials...

Discovery

3 techniques
T1082System Information DiscoveryEvidence1
TacticDiscovery

Baseline automatic behavior includes: beaconing system info to the hard-coded controller

T1083File and Directory DiscoveryEvidence1
TacticDiscovery

The capability list is explicit in the extracted bundle: ping , get_system_info , list_drives , list_dir

T1518Software DiscoveryEvidence1
TacticDiscovery

scan_files - recursive credential, wallet, browser, shell-history, and environment-variable scanning

Collection

6 techniques
T1005Data from Local SystemEvidence1

The operator can read or write any user-accessible file.

T1056.001KeyloggingEvidence2

It targets credentials from 15 browser families... runs a continuous keylogger, and takes screenshots every 60 seconds.

T1113Screen CaptureEvidence1

It targets credentials from 15 browser families... runs a continuous keylogger, and takes screenshots every 60 seconds.

T1115Clipboard DataEvidence1

The malware persists on Windows, macOS, and Linux, beacons to a hard-coded controller, logs keystrokes, monitors the clipboard

T1119Automated CollectionEvidence1

It targets credentials from 15 browser families, lifts data from over 80 cryptocurrency wallet extensions, hijacks Telegram Desktop sessions, copies SSH keys, runs a continuous keylogger, and takes screenshots every 60 seconds.

T1560Archive Collected DataEvidence1

It then: archives the requested file or folder into a gzip file under the system temp directory

T1071.001Web ProtocolsEvidence2

This means all outbound traffic looks like normal, authenticated HTTPS requests to a well-known AI platform... The malware reconnects to its command server over WebSocket after any interruption

T1105Ingress Tool TransferEvidence2

Once a developer installs the package, it silently downloads and executes MicrosoftSystem64... The malware also pulls updates from HuggingFace every 24 hours, replacing its own binary when a newer version is available.

T1219Remote Access ToolsEvidence2

"Inside MicrosoftSystem64: A Supply Chain RAT Exfiltrating to HuggingFace"

Exfiltration

2 techniques
T1567Exfiltration Over Web ServiceEvidence3

A Supply Chain RAT Exfiltrating to HuggingFace

T1567.002Exfiltration to Cloud StorageEvidence2

Malware Inside MicrosoftSystem64: A Supply Chain RAT Exfiltrating to HuggingFace

Other

1 technique
T1562Impair DefensesEvidence1

The implant also supports clear_sessions , which kills browser processes and destroys session stores to force reauthentication while the keylogger is already running.

INDICATORS OF COMPROMISE

IOCs tracked for this family

19 indicators attributed across vendor reports, sandbox runs, and researcher write-ups. Full values are available in Mallory.

View more in app
Network
2 tracked

IPs, domains, and DNS infrastructure linked to this family.

Hashes
7 tracked

File hashes (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256) from samples and reports.

Other
10 tracked

Other indicator types observed in public reporting.

TypeValueLatest sighting
ip.v4●●●●●●●●●●●●View more in app3 days ago
domain●●●●●●●●●●●●View more in app7 days ago
hash.sha256●●●●●●●●●●●●View more in app7 days ago
uri●●●●●●●●●●●●View more in app7 days ago
uri●●●●●●●●●●●●View more in app7 days ago
hash.sha256●●●●●●●●●●●●View more in app2 months ago
ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

5 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

cyber security newsNews
May 29, 2026
MicrosoftSystem64 Malware Uses HuggingFace Datasets for Stealthy Data Exfiltration

Cross-platform remote access trojan delivered via poisoned npm packages that steals browser credentials, cryptocurrency wallet data, Telegram Desktop sessions, SSH keys, keystrokes, and screenshots; persists across Windows, Linux, and macOS; uses HuggingFace for binary hosting, self-updates, and exfiltration; and supports remote command execution.

Read more
lazarusholic blueskyNews
May 29, 2026
Post by @lazarusholic.bsky.social - Bluesky

A remote access trojan referenced in the context of a supply chain campaign, described as exfiltrating data to HuggingFace.

Read more
safedep blogNews
May 28, 2026
141 npm Packages Abuse Registry as Adware Hosting - Real-time Open Source Software Supply Chain Security

A supply-chain remote access trojan delivered via malicious npm packages. It is described as a Node.js SEA binary that steals browser credentials, cryptocurrency wallet extension data, and Telegram sessions, and exfiltrates data to HuggingFace.

Read more
safedep blogNews
May 28, 2026
Mini Shai-Hulud "Miasma: The Spreading Blight" Hits @redhat-cloud-services: Multiple Packages at Risk - Real-time Open Source Software Supply Chain Security

A remote access trojan delivered via malicious npm packages as an 81 MB Node.js SEA binary. It is described as stealing browser credentials, data from more than 80 crypto wallet extensions, and Telegram sessions, and exfiltrating data to HuggingFace.

Read more
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IOC matching19

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Threat actor attribution2

Named campaigns wielding this family, with evidence pinned to each claim.

Exploited vulnerabilities

CVEs this family uses for access and lateral movement.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

MITRE ATT&CK mapping32

Every documented technique, ranked by evidence weight.

Researcher chatter

Reddit, Mastodon, and CTI community discussion around this family.