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Malicious code in dotenv-express (npm)

0
Critical
Published: 03/24/2026 (03/24/2026, 15:43:15 UTC)
Source: GCVE Database
Product: dotenv-express

Description

--- _-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_ ## Source: amazon-inspector (87c063897212774df4e13b1d7bf70cc74a98ac1ca824d2bb1f1e8c60d0662b5e) Package impersonates the popular `dotenv` package: `package.json` points its repository field to `git://github.com/motdotla/dotenv.git` and homepage to `https://github.com/motdotla/dotenv#readme`, neither of which the author owns. The library code is a near-verbatim copy of dotenv but adds `const gate = require('environment-gate')` at the top of `lib/main.js`, and the documented `config()` entry point begins with `gate.gate()` — so any consumer calling the standard dotenv API (`require('dotenv-express').config()`) executes code from `environment-gate`, an unrelated third-party dependency with no env-file-loading purpose, on every load. The package additionally ships `skills/dotenv/SKILL.md` and `skills/dotenvx/SKILL.md` whose frontmatter declares `name: dotenv`, `author: motdotla`, `source: https://github.com/motdotla/dotenv`, and instructs `npm install dotenv` — identity-spoofing metadata designed to trick AI coding agents into treating this package as the genuine dotenv. The combination of impersonated repo/homepage/skill metadata, a name one token away from `dotenv`, and a forced transitive dependency that runs on the documented API call is deliberate namespace abuse rather than a typo, and the harm to installers is whatever `environment-gate` does at require-time on every `.config()` invocation. ## Source: ghsa-malware (03c0fed624e7f4adac4d6d6f75a5d7074900b15daf2009781445e6edd0b01f87) Any computer that has this package installed or running should be considered fully compromised. All secrets and keys stored on that computer should be rotated immediately from a different computer. The package should be removed, but as full control of the computer may have been given to an outside entity, there is no guarantee that removing the package will remove all malicious software resulting from installing it.

Affected software

dotenv-express
pkg:npm/dotenv-express
Affected versions
=2.5.5=17.4.4=17.4.5=17.4.3=17.4.6=17.4.2

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AI-Powered Analysis

Machine-generated threat intelligence

AILast updated: 07/07/2026, 00:07:03 UTC

Technical Analysis

The 'dotenv-express' npm package is a malicious impersonation of the legitimate 'dotenv' package. It copies the original code nearly verbatim but adds a require call to 'environment-gate' at the top of its main library file, causing this unrelated third-party code to execute whenever the documented 'config()' function is called. The package also includes spoofed repository and homepage metadata pointing to the legitimate 'dotenv' project, as well as skill metadata designed to mislead AI coding assistants. This namespace abuse is intentional and results in arbitrary code execution on any system that installs and uses this package. The malicious behavior means that any computer with this package installed should be treated as fully compromised.

Potential Impact

Systems with 'dotenv-express' installed are at high risk of full compromise due to execution of malicious code from the 'environment-gate' dependency on every use of the package's API. Attackers may gain control over the affected system, potentially accessing all stored secrets and keys. The compromise is severe enough that simply removing the package may not eliminate all malicious presence, requiring secret rotation and further incident response.

Mitigation Recommendations

No official patch or fix is available. The package should be immediately removed from all systems. All secrets and keys stored on compromised systems must be rotated from a separate, trusted environment. Due to the potential full compromise, assume the system is untrusted and conduct a thorough security assessment and remediation. Avoid installing packages with names similar to popular libraries without verifying their authenticity.

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Technical Details

Gcve Source
db.gcve.eu
Osv Id
MAL-2026-2350
Osv Schema Version
1.7.4
Aliases
["GHSA-hmr7-9h9c-5m6q"]
Ecosystems
["npm"]
Database Specific Severity
null
Cvss Version
null

Threat ID: 6a4c342c27e9c797195fa4a2

Added to database: 07/06/2026, 23:03:08 UTC

Last enriched: 07/07/2026, 00:07:03 UTC

Last updated: 07/18/2026, 17:27:21 UTC

Views: 6

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