Which versions of array-sort-helper are malicious?

The following npm versions of array-sort-helper are flagged malicious: 1.0.0. Treat any of these as compromised.

How do I remediate array-sort-helper if I installed it?

array-sort-helper is built to steal secrets, so assume every credential the build or runtime could read is compromised. Remove it from your project and lockfile, then rotate ALL exposed secrets — npm/registry tokens, cloud keys, CI/CD secrets, SSH keys, and any .env values — from a known-clean machine. Audit logs for unauthorized use of those credentials.

I already installed array-sort-helper — how do I know if it already compromised me?

If array-sort-helper was installed, its post-install payload may already have run. Removing the package does not undo that — check outbound connections and credential use from the install window onward.

Is array-sort-helper part of a known attack campaign?

Yes — array-sort-helper is associated with the IN-MAL-2026-011045 campaign. Packages in the same campaign often share infrastructure and payloads, so check whether any related packages are also in your dependency tree.

How do I find array-sort-helper across my projects, lockfiles, and CI pipelines?

Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for array-sort-helper (version 1.0.0).

Malicious package

array-sort-helpernpm

Advisory published Jul 28, 2026Updated Aug 4, 2026

array-sort-helper is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-11118) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious version 1.0.0). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.

Malicious code in array-sort-helper (npm)

MAL-2026-11118

Immediate action

Remove the package, then rotate any secrets the build/runtime could reach.

npm uninstall array-sort-helper

What this malware does

The npm postinstall script in [email protected] automatically runs on npm install and executes a shell reconnaissance and exfiltration routine. postinstall.js collects hostname, user, pwd, uname, container/docker markers, process tree, GitHub Actions CI variables (GITHUB_REPOSITORY, GITHUB_ACTOR, GITHUB_RUN_ID, RUNNER_NAME, CI), local IPs, /etc/resolv.conf, AWS and Tencent cloud instance-metadata (IMDS) probes, and a full dump of process environment variables (filtering only npm_* noise). The collected data is base64-encoded and sent via HTTP GET to a hardcoded Burp Collaborator subdomain at pzs5w7ntzhsnepwk564lyfdci3oucl0a.oastify.com/z?d=<base64>. The package presents itself as an array-sort utility but ships no such functionality; index.js contains unrelated color helper code. The behavior is credential and secret harvesting targeted at CI runners and cloud workloads.

The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'array-sort-helper' @ 1.0.0 (npm) as malicious.

It is considered malicious because:

The package communicates with a domain associated with malicious activity.
The package executes one or more commands associated with malicious behavior.

Malicious versions

1 flagged

1.0.0

Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)

6cade78851ee1586c3bbf22b8c1393e0c2f8e51ac6c8496aaaf50cda425807cc

2c18cc0d6d922eb6bbfcb565415772dbd0bb246ca7595f18afe1f87f2f6c1a33

Detection & response playbook

Credential / info stealer

Find it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for array-sort-helper (version 1.0.0).
If you installed it — respond
array-sort-helper is built to steal secrets, so assume every credential the build or runtime could read is compromised. Remove it from your project and lockfile, then rotate ALL exposed secrets — npm/registry tokens, cloud keys, CI/CD secrets, SSH keys, and any .env values — from a known-clean machine. Audit logs for unauthorized use of those credentials.
Did it already run?
If array-sort-helper was installed, its post-install payload may already have run. Removing the package does not undo that — check outbound connections and credential use from the install window onward.

Frequently asked questions

No. array-sort-helper on npm has been identified as a malicious package (version 1.0.0 flagged). It should be removed immediately — do not install or keep it in your dependency tree.

Campaign

IN-MAL-2026-011045

References

npmjs.com

Credits

Amazon Inspector · finder
OpenSSF: Package Analysis · finder

Detect & block this

O3 blocks array-sort-helper-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the credential exfiltration and severs the channel.

Malware detection Runtime egress monitoring

Explore

All malware advisories How O3 detects malware Vulnerability database