I've been seeing a lot of posts about people finding malicious JavaScript code in repos from scammers posing as employers. A while back, I actually ran some of this code without a virtual machine, which I realize now was a mistake. It's been three months since then, and I haven't noticed anything unusual. I consulted ChatGPT and checked everything it suggested, but I'm still curious about how powerful malicious JavaScript can actually be. Could it be silently waiting for something to trigger it? What are ways I can check for potential issues?
3 Answers
Do you still have access to that malicious code? It could potentially steal your passwords and login info if it’s designed that way. Luckily, it probably won't act like a traditional virus, but it’s not something to dismiss. Just be careful with what you run in the future!
Malicious JavaScript is a major threat in modern web applications. You should definitely look up terms like "JS supply chain attack". Basically, malicious code can be injected into your browser, meaning if you're logged into sensitive accounts, it could act as you. For instance, if it runs in your banking session, it can manipulate or even access your accounts. Backend JavaScript, like Node.js, can also be dangerous; it can potentially steal data from servers or databases. So, it’s really important to be cautious about the code you run, especially from unknown sources. Also, it’s not uncommon for these types of attacks to happen often, so stay informed!
Thanks for the info and the links! This is quite scary.
JavaScript in the browser is somewhat contained, meaning it can't access your file system or run in the background like a virus would. But it can create fake interfaces to phish your credentials, exploit browser flaws, or even steal cookies if they're not well protected. If you ran a Node.js application or some suspicious scripts locally, that’s where the real danger lies. Node.js can do all sorts of things - read your files, log keystrokes, and even trigger actions later. If you're really worried, the best advice is to back up your data and consider a fresh OS install to be safe!
I appreciate the detailed response! Thankfully, I didn’t run any Node.js files.
Unfortunately, that repo is gone now. Guess I’ll just have to be more cautious!