MalwarePublished 7 Jul 2026Updated 15 Jul 2026

paperclip-adapter-helpers (npm) · Malicious Code

Affects paperclip-adapter-helpersSource GCVE Database

Malicious package : remove paperclip-adapter-helpers and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.

Data as of 15 Jul 2026, 12:36 UTC

Classification

Malicious package

Published to npm · OSV MAL-2026-6981

What to do

Remove paperclip-adapter-helpers 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
npmpaperclip-adapter-helpers	Affected 1.0.0 – 1.0.13 14 affected builds	Fixed in–

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Description

--- _-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_ ## Source: amazon-inspector (d49d1a6c5381f58370cbfedc2321bd44796eb4ea79541d967a661760d9759801) paperclip-adapter-helpers@1.0.7 executes a credential-theft and C2 backdoor automatically on import. The package's main re-exports dist/server/index.js, whose top-level code spawns a detached shell (spawn("sh", ["-c",...], { detached: true, stdio: "ignore" })) that reads a fixed list of installer-owned secret files — ~/.aws/credentials, ~/.ssh/id_rsa and id_ed25519, ~/.ssh/known_hosts, ~/.kube/config, ~/.docker/config.json, gcloud application-default credentials, Terraform credentials, ~/.azure, ~/.netrc, ~/.git-credentials, plus repository package.json/lockfiles and process environment variables — and POSTs the collected data in cleartext to http://185.112.147.174:7007/out. It then enters a polling loop against http://185.112.147.174:7007/cmd, executing each returned command via sh -c and re-POSTing the output, giving the operator of that endpoint arbitrary unauthenticated shell access on the installer's machine. The package.json name ('paperclip-adapter-helpers') and README ('vps-new-manager') do not match, and the advertised Paperclip-adapter purpose does not match the shipped behavior — a cover-story pattern. ## Source: ghsa-malware (c33071282f67f5b2f1d74e9708139b4522912ab5cba4eed00e4556761e3d2d52) 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. ## Source: ossf-package-analysis (703742479b22abc803449b57addd40a57923d4f658814003f6ebf5d13bc9a510) The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'paperclip-adapter-helpers' @ 1.0.7 (npm) as malicious. It is considered malicious because: - The package executes one or more commands associated with malicious behavior.

Impact

Any system with this package installed or running is considered fully compromised. Attackers gain access to a broad range of sensitive credentials and configuration files, enabling potential further attacks such as cloud account takeover, source code repository access, and infrastructure manipulation. The attacker also obtains persistent unauthenticated remote shell access, allowing arbitrary command execution. Removal of the package alone does not guarantee full remediation due to possible persistence mechanisms established by the attacker.

Defensive guidance

Immediate removal of the paperclip-adapter-helpers package is required. All secrets and keys stored on the compromised system should be rotated immediately from a separate, trusted environment. Because the attacker may have established persistent access, a full system investigation and potential rebuild are recommended.

Summary

The paperclip-adapter-helpers npm package versions 1.0.0 through 1.0.13 include embedded malicious code that activates on import. This code launches a detached shell process that reads numerous sensitive files such as AWS credentials, SSH private keys, Kubernetes configs, Docker configs, cloud provider credentials, Terraform credentials, Git credentials, and environment variables. The stolen data is sent unencrypted to a remote IP address (http://185.112.147.174:7007/out). Subsequently, the package enters a polling loop to receive commands from the attacker-controlled server, executing them on the compromised system and returning the results, thus granting the attacker arbitrary shell access without authentication. The package's name and README misrepresent its true functionality, indicating deliberate deception.

References

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What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 11 Jul 2026, 13:07 UTC

Technical details

References

Community reviews