How to Detect and Remove the Axios Malware from Your Project

If your project may have installed the malicious Axios releases, treat it like a real incident. The fastest path is to verify exposure, contain execution, and rotate anything sensitive that may have been available during the install window. Start with verification Use the tools you already have: npm ls axios npm ls plain-crypto-js grep -n "axios@1.14.1 \| axios@0.30.4 \| plain-crypto-js@4.2.1" package-lock.json If you are using pnpm or yarn, inspect the corresponding lockfile and workspace tree as well. The goal is not just to know whether Axios appears in the repository. The goal is to know whether the malicious versions were resolved and installed. Treat the install window as suspicious The public writeups from Aikido Security, Socket, Semgrep, and StepSecurity all point to the same response pattern: assume exposure until you have evidence otherwise. Look for: installs that ran postinstall or other scripts temporary files created during package installation background child processes