Malicious Package in donotinstallthis - Critical Vulnerability

donotinstallthis Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

02/09/2020
CRITICAL
No i
Critical
9.8

GHSA-73hr-6785-f5p8: Malicious Package in donotinstallthis. Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓

Free scan

Check if this vulnerability affects your application

Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.

Check my app free

No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds

Upload your dependency manifest or SBOM

Drag & drop your file here or

Java Javascript PHP Python Go Rust Ruby Dart C/C++ Elixir CycloneDX SPDX

Upload a supported dependency manifest or SBOM. No installation or source-code access required.

See supported files and SBOM formats
SBOM sbom.json · bom.json · bom.xml · *.spdx.json · *.cdx.json · *.cdx.xml
Java pom.xml · gradle.lockfile · buildscript-gradle.lockfile
Javascript package-lock.json · yarn.lock · pnpm-lock.yaml
PHP composer.lock
Python poetry.lock · requirements.txt · Pipfile.lock
Go go.mod
Rust Cargo.lock
Ruby Gemfile.lock
Dart pubspec.lock
C/C++ conan.lock
Elixir mix.lock
Enter your work email to receive your report link.

Verify your email to view the full report and start 30 days of continuous monitoring. No credit card required.

Sponsored Devnack Mobile apps built by Devnack Design, build and launch iOS and Android apps with a senior product team. From idea to store release Start a project

Background

The donotinstallthis package is an npm package that was found to contain malicious code. This package is used in various projects and installations. It is important to note that the package itself is not intended for use and should be removed from your environment.

Vulnerability Detail

The donotinstallthis package contained a script that was executed during the installation process. This script made contact with a remote service to track the number of installations. While there is no evidence of further compromise, the presence of this malicious code poses a significant security risk. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 9.8, indicating its critical severity.

How To Fix

No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.

Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →

Conclusion

The donotinstallthis package contained malicious code that posed a critical security risk. It is recommended to remove this package from your environment to ensure the security of your applications. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can contact DevNack.com.

See every vulnerability recorded for donotinstallthis →

Share this vulnerability

FAQ

The presence of the malicious code in the donotinstallthis package can lead to unauthorized tracking of installations. While there is no evidence of further compromise, it is important to remove the package to ensure the security of your environment.

You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability. Simply provide your package-lock.json file and Vulert will analyze it for any open-source vulnerabilities, including this one.

There is no specific workaround available for this vulnerability. The recommended solution is to remove the donotinstallthis package from your environment.

The malicious code was found specifically in the donotinstallthis package. Other packages from the same author may not be affected. However, it is recommended to exercise caution and thoroughly review any packages from the same author before using them.

To prevent similar vulnerabilities, it is important to follow best practices for package management. Regularly update your packages to the latest versions, review the package's source code and community feedback, and consider using tools like Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software.

Related vulnerabilities

Recent vulnerabilities recorded for donotinstallthis.

How To Fix

No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.

Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →

Subscribe to Vulert on Telegram
Daily digest of new CVEs, critical and high severity, affected packages and fixes — plus a weekly roundup.
Join the channel →
Help improve this record
Report an issue or send feedback