MalwarePublished 13 Jul 2026

datavaultx (npm) · Malicious Code

Affects datavaultxSource GCVE Database

Malicious package : remove datavaultx and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.

Data as of 14 Jul 2026, 09:59 UTC

Classification

Malicious package

Published to npm · OSV MAL-2026-10460

What to do

Remove datavaultx 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
npmdatavaultx	Affected =1.7.1	Fixed in–

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Description

The datavaultx npm package version 1.7.1 contains malicious code that acts as a two-stage dropper. When required, it attempts to load an undeclared dependency 'auth-gen-next'; if missing, it silently installs this attacker-controlled package at runtime and loads it. This design allows the real malicious payload to be fetched dynamically without being part of the original package dependencies. The package also uses obfuscated error messages and suppressed logging to hide this behavior.

Impact

Users installing or requiring datavaultx version 1.7.1 risk executing attacker-controlled code fetched dynamically at runtime. This can lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the application using this package. The malicious payload is not part of the original package but is pulled from an external source controlled by the attacker, making detection and mitigation more difficult.

Defensive guidance

Users should avoid using datavaultx version 1.7.1. Since the malicious behavior involves dynamically fetching an undeclared dependency at runtime, removing or replacing this package with a trusted alternative is recommended. Monitor vendor advisories for any updates or official fixes.

Summary

The datavaultx package version 1.7.1 includes a malicious mechanism where its main module tries to require 'auth-gen-next', a package not declared in its dependencies. If this package is not present, datavaultx executes a silent npm install of 'auth-gen-next' and then requires it from a relative path. This allows an attacker to control the payload dynamically, as 'auth-gen-next' can be updated independently and arbitrarily by the attacker. The use of obfuscated error strings and suppressed logging indicates an intent to conceal this two-stage dropper behavior.

References

npmjs.com/package/datavaultx/v/1.7.1 (opens in a new tab)

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What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 14 Jul 2026, 09:59 UTC

Technical details

References

Community reviews