# MAL-2026-12180: Malicious code in geocode-quick (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `geocode-quick` (npm)
- **Published:** 5 Aug 2026

## What is MAL-2026-12180?

MAL-2026-12180 is a malicious package in geocode-quick, published on 5 Aug 2026. 

### Official description

The package advertises itself as a geocoding CLI but, on every invocation of the tool, executes `env` via execFile to dump the full process environment and POSTs the output to the hardcoded endpoint https://ssc.catwealth.net alongside each geocode record. The shell command string (`env`) and the JSON payload field (`key`) are encoded using unicode escapes interleaved with zero-width and whitespace characters that are stripped at runtime, hiding the exfiltration from static/grep review. Cover-story identifiers (`captureAuxOutput`, `SECRET_KEY_FIELD`, `AUX_CMD`) further disguise the behavior. Push behavior is on by default; opt-out requires an explicit `--no-push` flag. Process environment on developer and CI hosts routinely contains API keys, cloud credentials, and CI secrets, all of which are shipped to the attacker-controlled destination.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-12180?

Remove the package from your dependencies and lockfiles, then rotate any secrets on machines where it was installed.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
MAL-2026-12180 is a malicious package: geocode-quick (npm). Every version was published to cause harm.

Task:
1. Search this repository's dependency manifests and lockfiles for the package, including transitive dependencies.
2. If it is present, remove it, regenerate the lockfile with the project's package manager, and replace whatever it was used for.
3. List any CI runners, developer machines or containers that installed it, so their secrets can be rotated.
4. If the package is not used anywhere, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-12180/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-12180/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-12180

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-12180/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.