Shai-Hulud Returns: The npm Worm That Only Works Because Your Secrets Are Standing Still

The recent Shai-Hulud supply chain attack demonstrates a fundamental shift in how attackers compromise organizations. Rather than exploiting software vulnerabilities, the malware targets what already exists on developer workstations and CI/CD systems: long-lived credentials. From .env files and cloud credentials to HashiCorp Vault tokens and AI coding assistants, the attack succeeds because secrets remain static, discoverable, and reusable.