Detect CVE-2026-54051: network-ai npm Package OS Command Injection in Google Chronicle
Detects exploitation of CVE-2026-54051, a critical OS command injection vulnerability (CWE-78) in the npm package 'network-ai' versions prior to 5.9.1. Improper neutralization of special elements allows attackers to inject arbitrary OS commands through the package's API, potentially leading to full system compromise. A public PoC is available.
MITRE ATT&CK
YARA-L Detection Query
rule cve_2026_54051_network_ai_cmd_injection {
meta:
author = "df00tech Detection Engineering"
description = "Detects CVE-2026-54051 network-ai npm OS command injection exploitation"
severity = "CRITICAL"
priority = "HIGH"
mitre_attack_tactic = "Execution, Privilege Escalation"
mitre_attack_technique = "T1059, T1190"
reference = "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-qw6v-5fcf-5666"
cve = "CVE-2026-54051"
events:
$proc.metadata.event_type = "PROCESS_LAUNCH"
$proc.principal.process.file.full_path = /node(|\.exe)$/i or
$proc.principal.process.command_line = /network-ai/i
$proc.target.process.file.full_path = /(cmd\.exe|powershell\.exe|\/sh|\/bash|\/dash|\/zsh|\/ksh)/i
$proc.target.process.command_line = /(whoami|id |net user|\/etc\/passwd|curl |wget |nc |ncat|python|perl|ruby)/i
condition:
$proc
}Chronicle YARA-L rule detecting CVE-2026-54051 exploitation of network-ai npm package via OS command injection from Node.js process ancestry.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Authorized Node.js scripts executing shell commands for system management
- CI/CD automation using network-ai package in test pipelines
- Security scanning solutions built on Node.js with shell exec capabilities
- Developer tooling on workstations invoking diagnostic commands via network-ai
Other platforms for CVE-2026-54051
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 4 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1CVE-2026-54051 Basic Command Injection via network-ai
Expected signal: Process creation event: node spawns sh or bash child process with command line containing 'whoami'; file creation event for /tmp/cve_2026_54051_poc.txt
- Test 2CVE-2026-54051 Reverse Shell Injection Simulation
Expected signal: Process creation: node → bash with command containing /dev/tcp; network connection event from bash process to 127.0.0.1:4444
- Test 3CVE-2026-54051 Persistence via Cron Injection
Expected signal: Process creation: node → sh → crontab with new entry; crontab file modification event; subsequent periodic execution of /tmp/beacon.sh if not cleaned up
- Test 4CVE-2026-54051 Credential Harvesting via /etc/passwd Read
Expected signal: Process creation: node → sh with 'cat /etc/passwd' in command line; file read event on /etc/passwd by shell child process of Node.js; file creation of /tmp/passwd_exfil.txt
Unlock Pro Content
Get the full detection package for CVE-2026-54051 including response playbook, investigation guide, and atomic red team tests.