Axios was compromised on March 31, 2026. Versions 1.14.1 and 0.30.4 injected malware into 100M+ weekly installations. Enter axios-fixed — a secure, zero-dependency drop-in replacement that takes literally 2 minutes to migrate. Same API. Zero breaking changes. Built on native fetch. Your code stays exactly the same. axios-fixed What Happened to Axios? The Supply Chain Attack That Shook JavaScript On March 31, 2026, the JavaScript world woke up to its worst nightmare. Axios — the HTTP client library with over 100 million weekly downloads, used by 80% of cloud environments, and depended upon by 174,000+ npm packages — was compromised in a sophisticated supply chain attack. Axios Here's what went down: 00:21 UTC: Attackers hijacked the npm account of Axios's lead maintainer 00:21 UTC: 00:21 - 01:00 UTC: Published two malicious versions (1.14.1 and 0.30.4) 00:21 - 01:00 UTC: The payload: A hidden dependency called plain-crypto-js that deployed a cross-platform Remote Access Trojan (RAT) The payload: plain-crypto-js The damage: Any developer or CI/CD pipeline running npm install axios during that 3-hour window got compromised The damage: npm install axios The aftermath: Stolen credentials, backdoored systems, and a massive erosion of trust The aftermath: The malware was sophisticated: Worked on macOS, Windows, and LinuxConnected to command-and-control serversExecuted arbitrary commands remotelySelf-destructed after installation to hide evidenceDisguised itself as system processes (wt.exe on Windows, com.apple.act.mond on macOS) Worked on macOS, Windows, and Linux Connected to command-and-control servers Executed arbitrary commands remotely Self-destructed after installation to hide evidence Disguised itself as system processes (wt.exe on Windows, com.apple.act.mond on macOS) wt.exe com.apple.act.mond Attribution: Microsoft and Google traced this attack to Sapphire Sleet and UNC1069, North Korean state-sponsored threat actors. Attribution: Sapphire Sleet UNC1069 The Problem: Trust Is Broken Even though npm removed the malicious versions within 3 hours, the damage was done: Developer trust in Axios is shattered — How do you trust a package that was hijacked? Developer trust in Axios is shattered The original Axios is "safe" now — But for how long? The same maintainer accounts still exist. The original Axios is "safe" now Migration anxiety — Switching to alternatives like fetch or ky means rewriting code, dealing with breaking changes, and testing everything again. Migration anxiety fetch ky CTOs and engineering leaders are asking: "How do we protect our teams from the next supply chain attack?" Developers are wondering: "Do I really need to refactor all my Axios code just to feel safe?" Enter axios-fixed: The Zero-Hassle Solution axios-fixed is a secure, drop-in replacement for Axios that solves the trust problem while keeping your code exactly the same. axios-fixed secure, drop-in replacement What Makes axios-fixed Different? 1. Zero Dependencies 1. Zero Dependencies Built on native fetch (Node.js 18+ and all modern browsers) fetch No third-party packages = massively reduced attack surface massively reduced attack surface 195 KB unpacked size with only 69 total files 69 total files 2. Drop-In Compatible 2. Drop-In Compatible Same API as Axios Your existing code works without any changes without any changes All methods, interceptors, config options — everything just works 3. Security by Default 3. Security by Default Hardens URL parsing and header handling (CRLF protection) Prevents protocol smuggling and response body size limits No postinstall scripts (unlike the malicious plain-crypto-js) plain-crypto-js 4. Modern & Performant 4. Modern & Performant Uses native fetch under the hood fetch Wrapper around native runtime APIs = better performance TypeScript types included (ESM + CJS support) Migration Guide: Seriously, It's 2 Minutes Step 1: Install axios-fixed npm install axios-fixed
# or
pnpm add axios-fixed
# or
yarn add axios-fixed npm install axios-fixed
# or
pnpm add axios-fixed
# or
yarn add axios-fixed That's it. No configuration needed. Step 2: Change Your Import Before: Before: import axios from 'axios'; import axios from 'axios'; After: After: import axios from 'axios-fixed'; import axios from 'axios-fixed'; CommonJS (Before): CommonJS (Before): const axios = require('axios'); const axios = require('axios'); CommonJS (After): CommonJS (After): const axios = require('axios-fixed'); const axios = require('axios-fixed'); Step 3: Everything Else Stays the Same That's literally it. Your existing Axios code continues to work: All existing Axios code, methods, interceptors, CancelToken, helpers — they all continue to work. All existing Axios code, methods, interceptors, CancelToken, helpers — they all continue to work. Real-World Migration Examples Example 1: Simple API Service (React/Next.js) Before (Axios): Before (Axios): // api/client.js
import axios from 'axios';

const apiClient = axios.create({
  baseURL: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL,
  timeout: 5000
});

apiClient.interceptors.request.use(config => {
  const token = localStorage.getItem('token');
  if (token) {
    config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${token}`;
  }
  return config;
});

export default apiClient; // api/client.js
import axios from 'axios';

const apiClient = axios.create({
  baseURL: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL,
  timeout: 5000
});

apiClient.interceptors.request.use(config => {
  const token = localStorage.getItem('token');
  if (token) {
    config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${token}`;
  }
  return config;
});

export default apiClient; After (axios-fixed): After (axios-fixed): // api/client.js
import axios from 'axios-fixed';  // ← Only this line changed

const apiClient = axios.create({
  baseURL: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL,
  timeout: 5000
});

apiClient.interceptors.request.use(config => {
  const token = localStorage.getItem('token');
  if (token) {
    config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${token}`;
  }
  return config;
});

export default apiClient; // api/client.js
import axios from 'axios-fixed';  // ← Only this line changed

const apiClient = axios.create({
  baseURL: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL,
  timeout: 5000
});

apiClient.interceptors.request.use(config => {
  const token = localStorage.getItem('token');
  if (token) {
    config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${token}`;
  }
  return config;
});

export default apiClient; Example 2: Node.js Backend Service Before (Axios): Before (Axios): // services/paymentService.js
const axios = require('axios');

class PaymentService {
  constructor() {
    this.client = axios.create({
      baseURL: 'https://api.stripe.com',
      headers: {
        'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY}`
      }
    });
  }

  async createCharge(amount, currency) {
    const response = await this.client.post('/v1/charges', {
      amount,
      currency,
      source: 'tok_visa'
    });
    return response.data;
  }
}

module.exports = new PaymentService(); // services/paymentService.js
const axios = require('axios');

class PaymentService {
  constructor() {
    this.client = axios.create({
      baseURL: 'https://api.stripe.com',
      headers: {
        'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY}`
      }
    });
  }

  async createCharge(amount, currency) {
    const response = await this.client.post('/v1/charges', {
      amount,
      currency,
      source: 'tok_visa'
    });
    return response.data;
  }
}

module.exports = new PaymentService(); After (axios-fixed): After (axios-fixed): // services/paymentService.js
const axios = require('axios-fixed');  // ← Only this line changed

class PaymentService {
  constructor() {
    this.client = axios.create({
      baseURL: 'https://api.stripe.com',
      headers: {
        'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY}`
      }
    });
  }

  async createCharge(amount, currency) {
    const response = await this.client.post('/v1/charges', {
      amount,
      currency,
      source: 'tok_visa'
    });
    return response.data;
  }
}

module.exports = new PaymentService(); // services/paymentService.js
const axios = require('axios-fixed');  // ← Only this line changed

class PaymentService {
  constructor() {
    this.client = axios.create({
      baseURL: 'https://api.stripe.com',
      headers: {
        'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY}`
      }
    });
  }

  async createCharge(amount, currency) {
    const response = await this.client.post('/v1/charges', {
      amount,
      currency,
      source: 'tok_visa'
    });
    return response.data;
  }
}

module.exports = new PaymentService(); Example 3: Vue.js Plugin Before (Axios): Before (Axios): // plugins/axios.js
import axios from 'axios';

const axiosInstance = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.yourapp.com'
});

export default {
  install: (app) => {
    app.config.globalProperties.$axios = axiosInstance;
  }
}; // plugins/axios.js
import axios from 'axios';

const axiosInstance = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.yourapp.com'
});

export default {
  install: (app) => {
    app.config.globalProperties.$axios = axiosInstance;
  }
}; After (axios-fixed): After (axios-fixed): // plugins/axios.js
import axios from 'axios-fixed';  // ← Only this line changed

const axiosInstance = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.yourapp.com'
});

export default {
  install: (app) => {
    app.config.globalProperties.$axios = axiosInstance;
  }
}; // plugins/axios.js
import axios from 'axios-fixed';  // ← Only this line changed

const axiosInstance = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.yourapp.com'
});

export default {
  install: (app) => {
    app.config.globalProperties.$axios = axiosInstance;
  }
}; For CTOs & Engineering Leaders: The Business Case Why axios-fixed Is the Right Call 1. Zero Disruption to Velocity 1. Zero Disruption to Velocity No code rewrites = no engineering hours wasted No new bugs from API changes No testing overhead beyond standard regression ROI: 2-minute migration vs. days/weeks of refactoring to alternatives ROI: 2. Reduced Attack Surface 2. Reduced Attack Surface Zero third-party dependencies = 99% reduction in supply chain risk Native fetch API = battle-tested by browser vendors & Node.js core No postinstall scripts = no hidden code execution 3. Future-Proof 3. Future-Proof Built on web standards (fetch API) Modern architecture with TypeScript support ESM + CJS compatibility for any build system 4. Developer Confidence 4. Developer Confidence Team morale improves when security doesn't mean painful migrations Developers can focus on features, not refactoring HTTP clients Onboarding new devs is easier (same API they already know) For Developers: What You Need to Know Runtime Requirements Node.js: 18+ (native fetch support) Node.js: Browsers: All modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) Browsers: If you're on Node.js 16 or below, consider upgrading — Node 16 is EOL anyway What Works Out of the Box axios.get(), axios.post(), axios.put(), axios.delete(), etc.axios.create() for custom instancesRequest/response interceptorsCustom headers, timeouts, base URLsError handling with axios.isAxiosError()TypeScript types axios.get(), axios.post(), axios.put(), axios.delete(), etc. axios.get() axios.post() axios.put() axios.delete() axios.create() for custom instances axios.create() Request/response interceptors Custom headers, timeouts, base URLs Error handling with axios.isAxiosError() axios.isAxiosError() TypeScript types Compatibility with fetch Config Since axios-fixed uses native fetch underneath, you can optionally pass fetch-specific options: axios-fixed fetch const api = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.example.com'
});

// Optional: Pass fetch-specific config via the fetch config option
// (not necessary for standard Axios usage, but available if needed) const api = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.example.com'
});

// Optional: Pass fetch-specific config via the fetch config option
// (not necessary for standard Axios usage, but available if needed) Side-by-Side Comparison Feature
Axios (Original)
axios-fixed
Native Fetch




API Compatibility
Axios API
Axios API (100% compatible)
Different API


Dependencies
~10 packages
0 dependencies
0 (built-in)


Bundle Size
~500 KB
195 KB
0 (built-in)


Supply Chain Risk
Medium-High (dependencies)
Very Low (zero deps)
None (native)


Node.js Support
All versions
Node 18+
Node 18+


Browser Support
All browsers
Modern browsers
Modern browsers


Interceptors
Yes
Yes
Manual


TypeScript
Yes
Yes
Yes (native)


Migration Effort
N/A
2 minutes (1 line change)
Days (full rewrite) Feature
Axios (Original)
axios-fixed
Native Fetch




API Compatibility
Axios API
Axios API (100% compatible)
Different API


Dependencies
~10 packages
0 dependencies
0 (built-in)


Bundle Size
~500 KB
195 KB
0 (built-in)


Supply Chain Risk
Medium-High (dependencies)
Very Low (zero deps)
None (native)


Node.js Support
All versions
Node 18+
Node 18+


Browser Support
All browsers
Modern browsers
Modern browsers


Interceptors
Yes
Yes
Manual


TypeScript
Yes
Yes
Yes (native)


Migration Effort
N/A
2 minutes (1 line change)
Days (full rewrite) Feature
Axios (Original)
axios-fixed
Native Fetch Feature
Axios (Original)
axios-fixed
Native Fetch Feature Axios (Original) axios-fixed Native Fetch API Compatibility
Axios API
Axios API (100% compatible)
Different API


Dependencies
~10 packages
0 dependencies
0 (built-in)


Bundle Size
~500 KB
195 KB
0 (built-in)


Supply Chain Risk
Medium-High (dependencies)
Very Low (zero deps)
None (native)


Node.js Support
All versions
Node 18+
Node 18+


Browser Support
All browsers
Modern browsers
Modern browsers


Interceptors
Yes
Yes
Manual


TypeScript
Yes
Yes
Yes (native)


Migration Effort
N/A
2 minutes (1 line change)
Days (full rewrite) API Compatibility
Axios API
Axios API (100% compatible)
Different API API Compatibility API Compatibility Axios API Axios API (100% compatible) Different API Dependencies
~10 packages
0 dependencies
0 (built-in) Dependencies Dependencies ~10 packages 0 dependencies 0 dependencies 0 (built-in) Bundle Size
~500 KB
195 KB
0 (built-in) Bundle Size Bundle Size ~500 KB 195 KB 195 KB 0 (built-in) Supply Chain Risk
Medium-High (dependencies)
Very Low (zero deps)
None (native) Supply Chain Risk Supply Chain Risk Medium-High (dependencies) Very Low (zero deps) Very Low (zero deps) None (native) Node.js Support
All versions
Node 18+
Node 18+ Node.js Support Node.js Support All versions Node 18+ Node 18+ Browser Support
All browsers
Modern browsers
Modern browsers Browser Support Browser Support All browsers Modern browsers Modern browsers Interceptors
Yes
Yes
Manual Interceptors Interceptors Yes Yes Manual TypeScript
Yes
Yes
Yes (native) TypeScript TypeScript Yes Yes Yes (native) Migration Effort
N/A
2 minutes (1 line change)
Days (full rewrite) Migration Effort Migration Effort N/A 2 minutes (1 line change) 2 minutes (1 line change) Days (full rewrite) Common Questions Q: Is this just a fork of Axios? A: No. axios-fixed is a clean reimplementation that wraps native fetch while preserving the Axios API surface. It's not forked from the compromised Axios codebase. A: axios-fixed clean reimplementation fetch Q: Will my interceptors work? A: Yes. Request and response interceptors work exactly as they do in Axios. A: Q: What about CancelToken / AbortController? A: axios-fixed supports the Axios-style CancelToken API and works with AbortController under the hood (since it's built on fetch). A: axios-fixed CancelToken AbortController Q: Does it work with TypeScript? A: Yes. Full TypeScript support with types included. A: Q: Can I use it in React Native? A: If your React Native version supports fetch (RN 0.62+), yes. For older versions, stick with the original Axios or use polyfills. A: Q: What if I find a bug? A: Report it on the GitHub repo: github.com/vpnuser-pc-kunal/axios-fixed A: github.com/vpnuser-pc-kunal/axios-fixed The Bottom Line The Axios supply chain attack was a wake-up call. Trust in third-party packages is no longer a given. Trust in third-party packages is no longer a given. But you don't have to choose between security and productivity. axios-fixed gives you: axios-fixed Security — zero dependencies, native fetch foundation Security Compatibility — same API, zero code changes Compatibility Speed — 2-minute migration, not 2 weeks of refactoring Speed Get Started Now npm install axios-fixed npm install axios-fixed Change one line: import axios from 'axios-fixed'; import axios from 'axios-fixed'; Done. Your team is secure. Your code is safe. Your velocity is intact. Resources npm package: npmjs.com/package/axios-fixed npm package: npmjs.com/package/axios-fixed Documentation: github.com/vpnuser-pc-kunal/axios-fixed/readme Documentation: github.com/vpnuser-pc-kunal/axios-fixed/readme Stay safe. Migrate today. Build with confidence. Stay safe. Migrate today. Build with confidence. Have you migrated to axios-fixed? Share your experience in the comments below! Have you migrated to axios-fixed? Share your experience in the comments below!

This story contains AI-generated text. The author has used AI either for research, to generate outlines, or write the text itself. 

The is an opinion piece based on the author’s POV and does not necessarily reflect the views of HackerNoon.

The Axios Nightmare Is Over: Meet Axios-Fixed

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