npmjs_web3-util
This report shows the evidence for npmjs_web3-util@1.0.0, the only known version.
OpenSSF/OSV Malicious Advisory
imported 4mo ago · by OpenSSF/OSVOpenSSF/OSV advisory MAL-2026-3768 confirms this npm version as malicious.
Advisory
MAL-2026-3768
Source
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV
Summary
Malicious code in npmjs_web3-util (npm)
Details
The package's `postinstall` lifecycle hook downloads a script from a personal GitHub Gist (`gist.githubusercontent.com/guellemilb/631fb6348967d9d475125edf67048c0e/raw/build_utils.py`) via curl/wget and pipes the response to `python3`, `node`, and `eval` — with fallback chains across all three interpreters. The Gist URL is mutable (the gist owner can change the served content at any time without any package republish), is unrelated to the package's advertised publisher, performs no hash or signature verification on the fetched bytes, and runs unconditionally on every `npm install`. The package otherwise provides no functionality: `index.js` is `module.exports = {};` despite the package describing itself as "Utilities for Web3/web3 development" — the dropper is the package's only effect. The name (`npmjs_web3-util`) and web3-themed keywords appear crafted to attract developers searching for web3 utility packages, making this a typosquat-style lure whose payload is the remote-fetch-and-execute chain.
References
Source & flagged code
0 flagged · loading sourceNo flagged code excerpts are attached to this scan.
Findings
1 High
HighOsv Malicious Advisory
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to npmjs_web3-util@1.0.0.
The versions list below shows the verdict for each recorded version.
- Avoid installing npmjs_web3-util@1.0.0. 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.
Think this verdict is wrong? Dispute it on GitHub or read how reports are produced.