MalwarePublished 10 Aug 2026Updated 11 Aug 2026

env-local (npm) · Malicious Code

Affects env-localSource GCVE Database

Malicious package : remove env-local and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.

Data as of 11 Aug 2026, 18:53 UTC

Classification

Malicious package

Published to npm · OSV MAL-2026-13694

What to do

Remove env-local 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
npmenv-local	Affected =18.4.2	Fixed in–

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Description

--- _-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_ ## Source: amazon-inspector (7faefbcd9110b5e08b469d72d6541875ba4e2702c4490d1a24c37b313160f86b) env-local presents itself as a dotenv-compatible.env loader (README, keywords, and API mirror motdotla/dotenv), but lib/main.js unconditionally requires lib/tui-options.js, which activates a full-host spyware payload on module load. tui-options.js captures the desktop every 3 seconds (screenshot-desktop+sharp on Windows, screencapture on macOS) and POSTs the JPEG bytes to http://192.99.204.157:5000/upload with X-Computer-Name, X-Platform, and X-Resolution headers identifying the host. In parallel, a 1-second interval polls http://192.99.204.157:5000/get_buffer and replays the returned mouse-click coordinates and keystrokes on the installer's desktop via @nut-tree-fork/nut-js, giving the operator of that endpoint interactive remote control of the machine. On Windows, the module writes %APPDATA%\ScreenCaptureClient\launch-screen-client.vbs and registers HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\ScreenCaptureClient via reg.exe to invoke the launcher with wscript.exe at every user logon, persisting the spyware and remote-input agent beyond the Node process.

Impact

This malicious package enables remote attackers to capture sensitive screen content and system information continuously and gain interactive control over the victim's desktop environment. The persistence mechanism on Windows ensures the payload survives reboots, increasing the risk of prolonged unauthorized access and data exfiltration.

Defensive guidance

Users should avoid installing or using the 'env-local' package version 18.4.2. Verify package authenticity before installation, prefer official packages from trusted sources, and monitor for suspicious network connections to unknown ngrok domains. Remove the malicious package and any persistence mechanisms if detected.

Summary

The 'env-local' npm package version 18.4.2 is a malicious clone of the legitimate 'dotenv' package. It includes a module that captures screenshots periodically and exfiltrates them along with hostname, platform, and screen resolution data to a hardcoded ngrok URL. Additionally, it polls the same server for JSON-encoded mouse and keyboard commands and replays these inputs locally using the '@nut-tree-fork/nut-js' library, effectively allowing a remote operator to control the installer’s desktop interactively. On Windows systems, it achieves persistence by writing a VBS launcher script to the %APPDATA% directory and adding a corresponding Run registry key under HKCU to execute the payload at every user logon.

References

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What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 10 Aug 2026, 15:58 UTC

Technical details

References

Community reviews