OpenSSF/OSV advisory MAL-2026-3766 confirms this npm version as malicious. The package declares `scripts.postinstall: node postinstall.js`, which runs automatically on `npm install`. The script is an explicit credential harvester and crypto-wallet stealer. It reads `~/.npmrc` (npm `_authToken` and `npm_*` tokens), `~/.env` (scraping keys matching TOKEN/API_KEY/DB_URL/PAYMENT/CLOUD/EMAIL/WEBHOOK patterns), and `~/.git-credentials`...
Source
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV
Summary
Malicious code in nock-helper (npm)
Details
The package declares `scripts.postinstall: node postinstall.js`, which runs automatically on `npm install`. The script is an explicit credential harvester and crypto-wallet stealer. It reads `~/.npmrc` (npm `_authToken` and `npm_*` tokens), `~/.env` (scraping keys matching TOKEN/API_KEY/DB_URL/PAYMENT/CLOUD/EMAIL/WEBHOOK patterns), and `~/.git-credentials`. It then enumerates Chrome, Brave, Edge, Chromium, Vivaldi, and Opera browser profile directories (`Default`, `Profile 1`, `Profile 2`) reading `Local Extension Settings` for 71 hardcoded crypto wallet extension IDs (MetaMask, Phantom, Coinbase Wallet, and others), and scans `~/Documents` / `~/Desktop` for seed phrase / mnemonic / keystore files. Collected data is POSTed to `http://149.28.127.35:8888` (hardcoded bare-IP C2, overridable via `C2_URL` env). The package further disguises itself: `index.js` is a dummy module self-describing as 'Lodash JavaScript utilities bundle' with the comment `The real payload is in postinstall.js`, and the package name `nock-helper` rides on both `nock` and `lodash` brand recognition. This matches multiple attack fingerprints simultaneously: hardcoded C2 in lifecycle script, browser wallet extension ID enumeration, credential-file scraping, and deceptive package identity.
Decision reason
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV confirms nock-helper@1.0.2 as malicious (MAL-2026-3766): Malicious code in nock-helper (npm)