Credential theft via install-time optional dependency payload
Published May 12, 2026 · Updated May 12, 2026
Embedded malicious code in 42 TanStack npm packages allows attackers to steal credentials when users install affected versions. Each poisoned manifest resolves a fictitious @tanstack/setup optional dependency to an orphan fork commit whose prepare script runs the bundled router_init.js payload before deliberately failing and disappearing. Installation with npm, pnpm, or Yarn is the gate; the payload harvests cloud, npm, GitHub, Kubernetes, Vault, and SSH credentials, exfiltrates them, and republishes packages maintained by the victim.
Summary
What happened
Embedded malicious code in 42 TanStack npm packages allows attackers to steal credentials when users install affected versions. Each poisoned manifest resolves a fictitious @tanstack/setup optional dependency to an orphan fork commit whose prepare script runs the bundled router_init.js payload before deliberately failing and disappearing. Installation with npm, pnpm, or Yarn is the gate; the payload harvests cloud, npm, GitHub, Kubernetes, Vault, and SSH credentials, exfiltrates them, and republishes packages maintained by the victim.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-45321
- Published
- May 12, 2026
- Updated
- May 12, 2026
- Vendor
- TanStack
- Product
- vue-start
- Classifications
- CWE-506, T1059.007, T1195.002, T1555
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 11, 2026Exploitation reportedTanStack npm supply-chain compromise
- May 12, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 12, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=1.167.61
- Affected versionversion=1.167.64
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Orphan TanStack fork payload commitweaponized · observed in use
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- TanStack npm supply-chain compromisereported exploitation
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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