GlassWorm Malware Hits macOS: Supply Chain Attack via Malicious VSCode Extensions (2026)
In late 2025 and into January 2026, a new wave of the "GlassWorm" malware campaign targeted macOS developers by infiltrating Visual Studio Code and OpenVSX extension marketplaces. Malicious extensions, embedding AES-256-CBC–encrypted JavaScript payloads, were uploaded using covert techniques. Once installed, the malware stole sensitive credentials, including GitHub, NPM, and crypto wallet data, and established persistence via AppleScript and LaunchAgents. The campaign also attempted to replace popular hardware cryptocurrency wallet apps like Ledger Live and Trezor Suite, although this payload failed due to incomplete attacker infrastructure. Over 33,000 installs were recorded, potentially impacting individual developers and organizations reliant on secure software supply chains. GlassWorm’s evolution targets not only Windows but also macOS ecosystems, signaling a rising trend in sophisticated supply chain attacks against developer tooling. This incident is a cautionary reminder for organizations and developers to tightly scrutinize third-party plugins, raising urgency to implement stronger extension vetting, threat detection, and least-privilege controls.
Kill Chain