What does the checkout-desktop-accounts malware do?

The package's main entry unconditionally requires./_loader on load. _loader.js reconstructs C2 hostnames from string fragments (oob-worker.cf*.workers.dev) and, on failure, reassembles a base64 payload from DNS TXT records under c. and N. on dl.wel1.ru. It downloads a platform-specific binary over HTTPS, writes it to /var/tmp/.cache_ or %TEMP%/dotnet_diag_ .exe (a name mimicking a Microsoft diagnostics tool), chmods 755, and spawns it detached via /bin/sh -c or cmd.exe /c start /b. A hidden stamp file (.analytics_state) is written to gate re-execution, and DO_NOT_TRACK/DISABLE_TELEMETRY env vars are honored to present a cooperative telemetry facade over the covert na

Which versions of checkout-desktop-accounts are malicious?

The following npm versions of checkout-desktop-accounts are flagged malicious: 35.7.4. Treat any of these as compromised.

How do I remediate checkout-desktop-accounts if I installed it?

checkout-desktop-accounts 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 checkout-desktop-accounts — how do I know if it already compromised me?

If checkout-desktop-accounts 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 checkout-desktop-accounts part of a known attack campaign?

Yes — checkout-desktop-accounts is associated with the IN-MAL-2026-015225 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 checkout-desktop-accounts across my projects, lockfiles, and CI pipelines?

Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for checkout-desktop-accounts (version 35.7.4).

Malicious package

checkout-desktop-accountsnpm

Advisory published Aug 5, 2026Updated Aug 5, 2026

checkout-desktop-accounts is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-12553) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious version 35.7.4). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.

Malicious code in checkout-desktop-accounts (npm)

MAL-2026-12553

Immediate action

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

npm uninstall checkout-desktop-accounts

What this malware does

The package's main entry unconditionally requires./loader on load. loader.js reconstructs C2 hostnames from string fragments (oob-worker.cf*.workers.dev) and, on failure, reassembles a base64 payload from DNS TXT records under c.<domain> and N.<domain> on dl.wel1.ru. It downloads a platform-specific binary over HTTPS, writes it to /var/tmp/.cache<hex> or %TEMP%/dotnet_diag<hex>.exe (a name mimicking a Microsoft diagnostics tool), chmods 755, and spawns it detached via /bin/sh -c or cmd.exe /c start /b. A hidden stamp file (.analytics_state) is written to gate re-execution, and DO_NOT_TRACK/DISABLE_TELEMETRY env vars are honored to present a cooperative telemetry facade over the covert native payload. The runtime-assembled hostnames, DNS-TXT covert channel, disguised filename, TMP-staging, chmod+x, and detached spawn together form an unambiguous remote-code-execution dropper triggered on any require of the package.

Malicious versions

1 flagged

35.7.4

Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)

2d5571b1ecfcbc9597cee92fc50abf9c5b373ba20b62038ab0623adc05eb726b

Detection & response playbook

Credential / info stealer

Find it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for checkout-desktop-accounts (version 35.7.4).
If you installed it — respond
checkout-desktop-accounts 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 checkout-desktop-accounts 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. checkout-desktop-accounts on npm has been identified as a malicious package (version 35.7.4 flagged). It should be removed immediately — do not install or keep it in your dependency tree.

Campaign

IN-MAL-2026-015225

References

npmjs.com

Credits

Amazon Inspector · finder

Detect & block this

O3 blocks checkout-desktop-accounts-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

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