MalwarePublished 9 Jun 2026Updated 8 Jul 2026

enquriers (npm) · Malicious Code

Affects enquriersSource GCVE Database

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

Data as of 9 Jul 2026, 10:05 UTC

Classification

Malicious package

Published to npm · OSV MAL-2026-5384

What to do

Remove enquriers 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
npmenquriers	Affected =2.4.2 =2.4.1	Fixed in–

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Description

The 'enquriers' npm package is identified as malicious primarily due to its name similarity to the popular 'enquirer' package, which may cause confusion. Although no direct malicious payload, exfiltration, or install-time code execution was found in the package contents, the package is considered fully compromising if installed or running on a system. Systems with this package should be treated as compromised, and all secrets and keys should be rotated from a different machine. Removal of the package alone may not fully remediate the compromise.

Impact

If the 'enquriers' package is installed or running on a system, the system should be considered fully compromised. This implies that attackers may have gained control or installed additional malicious software beyond the package itself. Consequently, all secrets and keys stored on the affected system are at risk and must be rotated from a secure, uncompromised environment. Removal of the package does not guarantee full remediation due to potential persistence mechanisms.

Defensive guidance

The recommended mitigation is to immediately remove the 'enquriers' package from any affected systems. Additionally, assume full system compromise: rotate all secrets and credentials from a different, secure machine. Conduct a thorough investigation and remediation of the affected system to ensure no residual malicious software remains.

Summary

The 'enquriers' package on npm is flagged as malicious mainly because it closely resembles the widely-used 'enquirer' package, potentially tricking users into installing it. While static analysis did not reveal explicit malicious code such as payloads or credential theft mechanisms, the package is considered a severe threat by some sources, which state that any system with this package installed should be treated as fully compromised. This discrepancy suggests that the threat assessment relies heavily on the risk of name confusion and potential indirect compromise rather than confirmed technical exploitation within the package itself.

References

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What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 9 Jul 2026, 10:05 UTC

Technical details

References

Community reviews