dtxtoolsnpm
Advisory published Updated
dtxtools is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-6514) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious versions 1.0.0, 1.0.1). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in dtxtools (npm)
What this malware does
package.json declares a postinstall lifecycle script that auto-executes on npm install. The hook performs a recursive filesystem search for database client binaries (mysql, mongo, mongosh, psql, redis-cli, sqlite3, elasticsearch), writes results to /data/db_clients_check.txt, and POSTs the collected output via plain-HTTP curl to http://3dhd6wwmusbh04m22igmzvb4hvnmblza.oastify.com, a Burp Collaborator (OAST) subdomain used as an out-of-band attacker channel. The package advertises itself as a string-utility library (index.js header references easy-string-kit) and ships benign-looking helper code as a cover; the install-time reconnaissance and exfiltration are unrelated to that advertised purpose. Author, repository, bugs, and homepage fields in package.json are empty, consistent with a disposable decoy publish.
The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'dtxtools' @ 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
Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)
Detection & response playbook
Credential / info stealerFind it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for dtxtools (2 malicious versions).
If you installed it — respond
dtxtools 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 dtxtools 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
- OpenSSF: Package Analysis · finder
Detect & block this
O3 blocks dtxtools-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the credential exfiltration and severs the channel.