merchantprefsservice-paypalnpm
Advisory published Updated
merchantprefsservice-paypal is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-11057) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious versions 4.0.0, 24.0.0, 28.0.0). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in merchantprefsservice-paypal (npm)
What this malware does
The package's preinstall script (index.js) executes automatically on npm install and collects host identifiers — hostname, platform, arch, home directory path, and configured DNS servers — then POSTs them to the hardcoded Burp Collaborator subdomain fdw2vnyonnpdk7x3ntotw7omtdz5n4bt.oastify.com at path /hit. The package name mimics an internal PayPal-namespaced service, consistent with a dependency-confusion beacon that fires when a developer or build system inadvertently resolves the public name over an intended private one. The exfiltrated DNS server list additionally reveals internal network configuration.
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.
The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'merchantprefsservice-paypal' @ 28.0.0 (npm) as malicious.
It is considered malicious because:
- The package communicates with a domain associated with malicious activity.
Malicious versions
Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)
Detection & response playbook
Credential / info stealerFind it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for merchantprefsservice-paypal (3 malicious versions).
If you installed it — respond
merchantprefsservice-paypal 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 merchantprefsservice-paypal 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 merchantprefsservice-paypal-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the credential exfiltration and severs the channel.