helpersutils-dev-toolsnpm
Advisory published Updated
helpersutils-dev-tools is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-16465) that opens a backdoor for remote access (malicious version 1.0.11). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in helpersutils-dev-tools (npm)
What this malware does
The package presents itself as 'Development utility helpers' but its main module executes an IIFE at require-time that issues an Image request to http://5.189.173.113:8899/csp-edu with document.domain appended as a query parameter. A sibling file bypass.js contains an equivalent beacon to http://5.189.173.113:8899/csp. Both destinations are a hardcoded bare IP over plain HTTP, unrelated to any advertised functionality, and receive host-context data (the consuming page's domain) whenever the module is loaded.
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
Backdoor / remote accessFind it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for helpersutils-dev-tools (version 1.0.11).
If you installed it — respond
helpersutils-dev-tools establishes remote access, so treat any host that installed it as fully compromised. Isolate the machine, remove the package, rotate all credentials it could reach, and rebuild from a trusted image rather than cleaning in place — a backdoor may have planted additional persistence.
Did it already run?
If helpersutils-dev-tools 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 helpersutils-dev-tools-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the C2 callback and severs the channel.