# MAL-2026-12514: Malicious code in async-mutex-v3 (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `async-mutex-v3` (npm)
- **Published:** 5 Aug 2026

## What is MAL-2026-12514?

MAL-2026-12514 is a malicious package in async-mutex-v3, published on 5 Aug 2026. 

### Official description

Package name typosquats `async-mutex` but ships unrelated functionality. The default export `getPlugin` in index.js issues an HTTP request to a hardcoded bare IP endpoint (http://46.183.25.232:45000/icons/108) and passes the response's `credits` field into `new Function('require','module',...,'Promise', data.credits)`, executing attacker-controlled JavaScript with Node privileges (access to require, process, Buffer). Cover-story variable names (`IconProvider`, `iconDomain` referencing cloudflare/fastly/akamai/gcore, path `/ajax/libs/font-awesome/...`, header `bearrtoken: 'logo'`) frame the code as an icon CDN helper, while the actually-used path hits the bare IP. Declared dependencies (better-sqlite3, @primno/dpapi, node-machine-id) are consistent with a credential-stealer post-exploitation pipeline. Any consumer that requires this package and invokes the default export executes whatever JavaScript the remote server returns.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-12514?

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-2026-12514 is a malicious package: async-mutex-v3 (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-2026-12514/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-12514/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-12514

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-12514/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.