npm install spawning suspicious Node.js child process chain

Ibrahim Saud@tektrix

•updated Sep 22, 2026•3•0•9

This rule detects scenarios where a node-based package manager (npm or npx) executes an 'install' command, which is immediately followed by the spawning of unexpected child processes such as interpreters (python, powershell, cmd, wscript, cscript, mshta) or network tools (curl). This behavior is characteristic of malicious npm packages used in supply chain attacks to deliver secondary payloads like BeaverTail, InvisibleFerret, or similar threats.