Node.js Pre or Post-Install Script Execution

Last updated 12 days ago on 2025-09-18

Created 12 days ago on 2025-09-18

About

This rule detects the execution of Node.js pre or post-install scripts. These scripts are executed by the Node.js package manager (npm) during the installation of packages. Adversaries may abuse this technique to execute arbitrary commands on the system and establish persistence. This activity was observed in the wild as part of the Shai-Hulud worm.

Tags

Domain: EndpointOS: LinuxUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: PersistenceTactic: ExecutionTactic: Defense EvasionData Source: Elastic DefendLanguage: eql

Severity

medium

Risk Score

MITRE ATT&CK™

Persistence (TA0003)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Create or Modify System Process (T1543)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Hijack Execution Flow (T1574)(opens in a new tab or window)

Execution (TA0002)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)(opens in a new tab or window)

Defense Evasion (TA0005)(opens in a new tab or window)

License

Elastic License v2(opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type: Event Correlation Rule
Integration Pack: Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns: logs-endpoint.events.process*
Related Integrations: endpoint(opens in a new tab or window)
Query

sequence by host.id with maxspan=10s
  [process where host.os.type == "linux" and event.type == "start" and event.action == "exec" and process.name == "node" and process.args == "install"] by process.entity_id
  [process where host.os.type == "linux" and event.type == "start" and event.action == "exec" and process.parent.name == "node"] by process.parent.entity_id

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Node.js Pre or Post-Install Script Execution in the Elastic Security detection engine by installing this rule into your Elastic Stack.

To setup this rule, check out the installation guide for Prebuilt Security Detection Rules(opens in a new tab or window).