Fake job interview delivers malware through Git hooks in take-home coding projects
Attackers are weaponizing the technical interview process itself, embedding malicious Git hooks in legitimate-looking coding assignments to compromise developer workstations.
Malicious Take-Home Interview Projects
A developer received a take-home coding project as part of a job interview process that contained hidden malicious Git hooks. Upon inspection of the provided repository, the candidate discovered automated scripts designed to execute when common Git commands were run.
The attack method exploits the trust developers place in interview processes from seemingly legitimate companies. By embedding malware in Git hooks—scripts that run automatically during repository operations—attackers bypass traditional security awareness that focuses on email attachments or suspicious downloads.
Developer Workflow Targeting
The campaign represents a sophisticated understanding of developer workflows and the technical hiring process. Git hooks execute with the permissions of the user running Git commands, providing immediate access to development environments, credentials, and source code.
Developers routinely clone repositories and run standard Git operations without inspecting hidden configuration directories. This social engineering vector bypasses security training that warns against running unknown executables, since Git hook execution is an expected part of normal repository operations for many development teams.