bootstrap-utilsnpm
Advisory published Updated
bootstrap-utils is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-6807) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious version 4.5.0). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in bootstrap-utils (npm)
What this malware does
The package's index.js is heavily obfuscated with classic string-array shuffling patterns (e.g., while(!![]) loops with repeated 'shift' calls and hex-encoded indices on a single line). Obfuscation of this shape is uncommon in legitimate library code and frequently used to hide install/runtime behavior, but no concrete installer-harm behavior (exfiltration endpoint, credential read, dropper, lifecycle hook) has been corroborated in this record. The package name 'bootstrap-utils' also has confusion potential with the popular 'bootstrap' ecosystem. A human reviewer should de-obfuscate index.js to confirm intent before this version is trusted.
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.
Malicious versions
Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)
Detection & response playbook
Credential / info stealerFind it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for bootstrap-utils (version 4.5.0).
If you installed it — respond
bootstrap-utils 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 bootstrap-utils 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
Campaign
References
Credits
- Amazon Inspector · finder
Detect & block this
O3 blocks bootstrap-utils-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the credential exfiltration and severs the channel.