MalwarePublished 5 Aug 2026

hdkey-wallet (npm) · Malicious Code

Affects hdkey-walletSource GCVE Database

Malicious package : remove hdkey-wallet and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.

Data as of 5 Aug 2026, 23:01 UTC

Classification

Malicious package

Published to npm · OSV MAL-2026-13346

What to do

Remove hdkey-wallet 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
npmhdkey-wallet	Affected =2.1.0	Fixed in–

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Description

The hdkey-wallet npm package version 2.1.0 contains malicious code that exfiltrates environment variables and system information to an attacker-controlled Telegram bot. It masquerades as a drop-in replacement for the legitimate hdkey library, forwarding legitimate functionality while stealing sensitive credentials such as AWS, NPM, and GitHub tokens from process.env. The exfiltration occurs once per environment due to a temporary flag file. No official patch or remediation guidance is currently provided.

Impact

Sensitive environment variables and system information are exfiltrated to an attacker-controlled Telegram bot, potentially compromising credentials and secrets stored in the environment. This can lead to unauthorized access to cloud services, package repositories, and source code repositories. The malicious package masquerades as a legitimate dependency, increasing the risk of widespread compromise if used in development or production environments.

Defensive guidance

Users should immediately remove the hdkey-wallet package version 2.1.0 from their projects and replace it with the legitimate hdkey library. Review and rotate any credentials or tokens that may have been exposed through environment variables. Monitor for any unauthorized access resulting from credential compromise. Exercise caution when installing packages and verify the authenticity of dependencies.

Summary

The hdkey-wallet npm package (version 2.1.0) includes malicious code that, upon module load, collects the entire process.env object along with hostname, username, home directory, platform, and current working directory. This data is JSON-encoded, base64-wrapped, and sent via HTTPS GET request to the Telegram Bot API using a hardcoded bot token and chat_id. The package attempts to require and re-export the legitimate hdkey library to maintain expected functionality and avoid suspicion. A temporary flag file prevents repeated data exfiltration. This behavior exposes sensitive environment variables commonly containing credentials such as AWS_*, NPM_TOKEN, and GITHUB_TOKEN to the attacker.

References

npmjs.com/package/hdkey-wallet/v/2.1.0 (opens in a new tab)

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What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 5 Aug 2026, 23:01 UTC

Technical details

References

Community reviews