MAL-2026-12786 Malicious code in dust-helpers (npm)

Malicious package Published
Package
dust-helpers
Registry
npm

What is MAL-2026-12786?

MAL-2026-12786 is a malicious package in dust-helpers, published on 5 Aug 2026.

Official description

On npm install, the package's preinstall script runs node callback.js, which collects os.hostname(), os.userInfo().username, process.cwd(), npm_config_registry, and multiple CI repository-slug environment variables (GITHUB_REPOSITORY, CI_PROJECT_PATH, BUILD_REPOSITORY_NAME, and similar) and sends them as query-string parameters in an HTTP GET to the hardcoded endpoint http://75.119.137.232:31337/depconfuse. The package is published at version 9999.0.0 with a generic description and the exfil path is literally /depconfuse, matching the dependency-confusion reconnaissance pattern: publish a very-high-version squat of an internal-sounding name to the public registry so private builds that misresolve pick it up and identify themselves to the attacker. Installer identity, working directory, internal registry URL, and internal repository slugs leave the host to an attacker-controlled bare-IP endpoint at install time, enabling targeted follow-on supply-chain intrusion against the affected organization.

What should I do about MAL-2026-12786?

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

Sources

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