# MAL-2026-12540: Malicious code in chai-as-inspired (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `chai-as-inspired` (npm)
- **Published:** 5 Aug 2026

## What is MAL-2026-12540?

MAL-2026-12540 is a malicious package in chai-as-inspired, published on 5 Aug 2026. 

### Official description

chai-as-inspired is a typosquat resembling chai/pino packages. Its middleware entrypoint (index.js) spawns a detached `node lib/caller.js` child on invocation. caller.js hides its network destination behind a fake `process.env` object whose values are base64 blobs; decoding yields the URL https://api.jsonstorage.net/v1/json/2ef8c758-a96f-459e-b036-b3b90379a165/f89e8264-86c2-4684-94da-c3f82d59370f and an `x-secret-key` header. The response's `cookie` field is passed to `new Function.constructor('require', s)(require)`, executing attacker-controlled JavaScript in a retry loop with the installer's `require` and full Node privileges. The remote content is hosted on a mutable, anonymous JSON-storage bucket and can be changed at any time by the operator. The base64 disguise of the endpoint and header keys, combined with the fetch-and-eval mechanism, establishes hostile intent.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-12540?

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-2026-12540 is a malicious package: chai-as-inspired (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-2026-12540/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-12540/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-12540

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-12540/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.