Threat intelligence / Malware

HexEval Loader

[HexEval Loader](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1249) is a hex-encoded loader that collects host data, decodes follow-on scripts and acts as a downloader for the [BeaverTail](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1246) malware. [HexEval Loader](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1249) was first reported in April 2025. [HexEval Loader](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1249) has previously been leveraged by North Korea-affiliated threat actors identified as [Contagious Interview](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1052). [HexEval Loader](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1249) has been delivered to victims through code repository sites utilizing typosquatting naming conventions of various npm packages.(Citation: Socket Contagious Interview NPM April 2025)(Citation: Socket BeaverTail XORIndex HexEval Contagious Interview July 2025)(Citation: Socket HexEval BeaverTail Contagious Interview June 2025)

Malware

TypeMalware

External ID—

First seen2026-08-14

Last seen2026-08-14

Confidence

—

[HexEval Loader](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1249) is a hex-encoded loader that collects host data, decodes follow-on scripts and acts as a downloader for the [BeaverTail](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1246) malware. [HexEval Loader](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1249) was first reported in April 2025. [HexEval Loader](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1249) has previously been leveraged by North Korea-affiliated threat actors identified as [Contagious Interview](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1052). [HexEval Loader](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1249) has been delivered to victims through code repository sites utilizing typosquatting naming conventions of various npm packages.(Citation: Socket Contagious Interview NPM April 2025)(Citation: Socket BeaverTail XORIndex HexEval Contagious Interview July 2025)(Citation: Socket HexEval BeaverTail Contagious Interview June 2025)

Labels

malware

13 recorded

Relationships

uses

from Contagious Interview

Group

uses

to Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information

Technique

uses

to Encrypted/Encoded File

Technique

uses

to Exfiltration Over C2 Channel

Technique

uses

to Ingress Tool Transfer

Technique

uses

Technique

uses

Technique

uses

to Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location

Technique

uses

to System Information Discovery

Technique

uses

to System Location Discovery

Technique

uses

to System Network Configuration Discovery

Technique

uses

to System Owner/User Discovery

Technique

uses

to Web Protocols

Technique

4 external

References

mitre-attack

S1249

Socket Contagious Interview NPM April 2025

https://socket.dev/blog/lazarus-expands-malicious-npm-campaign-11-new-packages-add-malware-loaders-and-bitbucket

Socket BeaverTail XORIndex HexEval Contagious Interview July 2025

https://socket.dev/blog/contagious-interview-campaign-escalates-67-malicious-npm-packages

Socket HexEval BeaverTail Contagious Interview June 2025

https://socket.dev/blog/north-korean-contagious-interview-campaign-drops-35-new-malicious-npm-packages