helper-agent (npm) · Malicious Code
Affects helper-agentSource GCVE Database
Malicious package : remove helper-agent and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.
Data as of 13 Nov 2026, 05:28 UTC
Malicious package
Published to npm · OSV MAL-2026-19224
What to do
Remove helper-agent 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 |
|---|---|---|
| npmhelper-agent | Affected
| Fixed in– |
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Description
The helper-agent npm package contains malicious code that executes a postinstall script on every npm install. This script sends installation status data to a hardcoded external webhook and scans specific localhost ports for a particular JSON API. If a matching record is found, it modifies the local service's manifest with an author-chosen status string. The outbound beacon and local mutation occur unconditionally, confirming installation to a third party and potentially altering local services.