checkout-desktop-accounts (npm) · Malicious Code
Affects checkout-desktop-accountsSource GCVE Database
Malicious package : remove checkout-desktop-accounts and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.
Data as of 5 Aug 2026, 15:51 UTC
Malicious package
Published to npm · OSV MAL-2026-12553
What to do
Remove checkout-desktop-accounts from every project, lockfile and image that pulls it in. Treat any host that installed it as compromised: rotate the credentials, tokens and keys it could read, from a clean machine.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| npmcheckout-desktop-accounts | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
The npm package 'checkout-desktop-accounts' version 35.7.4 contains malicious code that executes remote code upon being required. It reconstructs command-and-control hostnames and uses DNS TXT records as a covert channel to download a platform-specific binary disguised as a Microsoft diagnostics tool. This binary is saved to temporary directories, made executable, and launched detached from the main process. The package also writes a hidden stamp file to prevent repeated execution and respects certain environment variables to simulate benign telemetry behavior.