@helpcentre/tesco-help
This report shows the evidence for @helpcentre/tesco-help@999.0.0, the only known version.
This package appears in our research on the dependency confusion probes at version 99 and above, with how it works, the full package list and what to do if you installed it.
OpenSSF/OSV Malicious Advisory
imported 4mo ago · by OpenSSF/OSVOpenSSF/OSV advisory MAL-2026-5521 confirms this npm version as malicious.
Advisory
MAL-2026-5521
Source
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV
Summary
Malicious code in @helpcentre/tesco-help (npm)
Details
On `npm install`, the postinstall hook runs `node index.js`, which performs an HTTPS POST to `https://f1ackavab3.execute-api.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/` carrying the installer's hostname (`os.hostname()`) and current working directory (`process.cwd()`) as JSON. The package has no other functionality. The scoped name `@helpcentre/tesco-help` targets a Tesco-branded internal namespace, and the inflated `999.0.0` version is the canonical dependency-confusion technique used to override a private package of the same name when an installer's registry config falls back to public npm. Installers who resolve this package leak host-identifying reconnaissance data to an attacker-controlled API Gateway endpoint, enabling targeted follow-on attacks against the affected build environment.
## Source: ghsa-malware (fe1c5453171d5de5ea2a770adc6dcfff3f7ffa3f2fe9f5615ef3024bed8f0cbb) 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.
References
Source & flagged code
0 flaggedNo flagged code excerpts are attached to this scan.
Findings
1 High
HighOsv Malicious Advisory
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to @helpcentre/tesco-help@999.0.0.
The versions list below shows the verdict for each recorded version.
- Avoid installing @helpcentre/tesco-help@999.0.0. Remove it from direct dependencies and check your lockfile for transitive copies.
- Choose an independently verified alternative or release. This report does not establish that other versions are safe.
- If this version ran, investigate the affected machine and build environment. Rotate credentials it could access and rebuild from a trusted environment.
Evidence last updated: .
Source advisory published: .
This report uses published external intelligence. The advisory does not provide a separate source-code analysis for each listed version.
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