MalwarePublished 17 Jun 2026Updated 25 Jun 2026

pathfix (npm) · Malicious Code

Affects pathfixSource GCVE Database

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

Data as of 26 Jun 2026, 22:41 UTC

Classification

Malicious package

Published to npm · OSV MAL-2026-5989

What to do

Remove pathfix 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
npmpathfix	Affected =3.0.10 =3.0.11 =3.0.12	Fixed in–

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Description

The npm package 'pathfix' versions 3.0.10, 3.0.11, and 3.0.12 contains malicious code that executes remote code on the installer's machine. It masquerades as a Stylus port of normalize.css but includes a backdoor that fetches and evaluates JavaScript from a remote URL with full require access. This leads to full system compromise upon installation or use. Immediate removal and secret/key rotation are strongly advised.

Impact

Full remote code execution on the installer's machine, leading to complete system compromise. Any secrets or keys stored on the compromised system may be exposed and must be rotated. Removing the package alone may not eliminate all malicious artifacts due to the full control potentially granted to attackers.

Defensive guidance

Immediate removal of the 'pathfix' package versions 3.0.10, 3.0.11, and 3.0.12 is required. All secrets and keys stored on affected systems should be rotated from a secure, uncompromised environment. Treat any system with this package installed as fully compromised and perform thorough incident response and remediation.

Summary

The 'pathfix' npm package (versions 3.0.10, 3.0.11, and 3.0.12) is a malicious package that pretends to be related to normalize.css but actually ships with a remote code execution gadget. On module load, it calls initPlugin(), which uses the 'request' library to fetch a configurable URL and evaluates the '.cookie' field of the response as JavaScript with full require access, allowing arbitrary code execution on the host machine. This function is also the main export, so any caller passing a URL triggers this eval path. Although the default URL is blank, the gadget runs automatically on require(), effectively compromising any system that installs or runs this package. The package metadata is deceptive, and the dependency list is unrelated to its stated purpose, aiming to increase installs. Systems with this package installed should be considered fully compromised.

References

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What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 26 Jun 2026, 22:41 UTC

Technical details

References

Community reviews