# MAL-2026-12698: Malicious code in devplatform-auth-client (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `devplatform-auth-client` (npm)
- **Published:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9p7w-3382-c43r

## What is MAL-2026-12698?

MAL-2026-12698 is a malicious package in devplatform-auth-client, published on 5 Aug 2026. 

### Official description

Requiring devplatform-auth-client loads `_bootstrap.js`, which selects a platform-specific payload URL, downloads opaque bytes over HTTPS from hardcoded Cloudflare `workers.dev` subdomains (oob-worker.cf102-baf.workers.dev, oob-worker.cf100-416.workers.dev, oob-worker.cf99-9b3.workers.dev) with a DNS-based fallback to sdk.dl.wel1.ru, ext.dl.wel1.ru, pkg.dl.wel1.ru, and net.dl.wel1.ru, writes them to /tmp or %TEMP% under decoy names such as `.cache_<hex>` and `dotnet_diag_<hex>.exe`, chmods 0755, and spawns them detached via `/bin/sh -c` or `cmd`. The destination hostnames and dangerous API names are assembled from split-string fragments joined at runtime to evade static scanners. A sibling `lib/telemetry.js` module, presented as an analytics SDK, contains a parallel loader that base64-decodes a payload, dynamically resolves `chmodSync`, and spawns the decoded file. The fetched bytes are unpinned, unverified, and unrelated to any documented publisher.

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.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-12698?

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-2026-12698 is a malicious package: devplatform-auth-client (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-2026-12698/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-12698/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-12698

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-12698/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.