test-dev-dispatchnpm
Advisory published Updated
test-dev-dispatch is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-11489) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious version 0.1.0). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in test-dev-dispatch (npm)
What this malware does
The package exposes handlers that receive messages over a network connection and dispatch them to shell execution, arbitrary-path file exfiltration, and remote-controlled file drops on the installer's host. handleCommand base64-decodes a command field from an incoming message, passes it to executeCommand() from test-dev-exec, and returns stdout to the remote peer via sendMessage(). handleUpload uploads any file path chosen by the remote peer to a remote server (tagged with getHardwareFingerprint()), and handleArchive zips an attacker-chosen directory and uploads it — enabling exfiltration of arbitrary installer files including secrets under ~/.ssh, ~/.aws, and similar paths. handleDownload retrieves a file from a remote server and stages it at an attacker-chosen path on the installer's filesystem, which combined with handleCommand yields staged remote code execution. This is a remote-access/backdoor dataflow: network-sourced bytes drive shell execution, file upload, and file drop on the installer's machine.
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 test-dev-dispatch (version 0.1.0).
If you installed it — respond
test-dev-dispatch 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 test-dev-dispatch 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 test-dev-dispatch-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the credential exfiltration and severs the channel.