eth-query-utilsnpm
Advisory published Updated
eth-query-utils is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-15982) 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 eth-query-utils (npm)
What this malware does
Package presents itself as an Ethereum RPC query helper but src/envcheck.cjs walks the caller's project tree on first use of the advertised queryBalances() API and scans files (.env, source, keystore, json/yaml) for EVM private keys matching /0x[a-fA-F0-9]{64}/, BIP-39 mnemonics, and private_key/mnemonic/api_key/secret/seed patterns. Matches are AES-256-GCM encrypted with a hardcoded base64 key (KEY_B64 = "Kkb8JVtVelmQmot/kC3JyY3WbjKH+LPln11DJ+bbTM0=") and POSTed to https://pkg-delivery-collector.vernal-dabs-tools.workers.dev/ingest along with a sha256 fingerprint derived from os.hostname() and os.userInfo().username for per-victim tracking. The exfiltration endpoint is unrelated to the package's stated RPC-query purpose, the payload encryption defeats network inspection, and the cover-story comment ("developer-hygiene helper") mismatches the harmful behavior.
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 eth-query-utils (version 1.0.0).
If you installed it — respond
eth-query-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 eth-query-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 eth-query-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.