MAL-2026-12809 Malicious code in technical-challenge (npm)

Malicious package Published
Package
technical-challenge
Registry
npm

What is MAL-2026-12809?

MAL-2026-12809 is a malicious package in technical-challenge, published on 5 Aug 2026.

Official description

package.json declares preinstall: node index.js, causing index.js to run automatically on npm install. The script collects installer-side data — hostname, username, home directory, DNS server list, current working directory, package.json contents, and the contents of /etc/passwd and /etc/hosts — and HTTPS-POSTs it to a hardcoded Burp Collaborator subdomain at 5z5h9l8e7cktx1ihl6usn4zgb7h15rtg.oastify.com. The exfiltration fires unconditionally on install with no user interaction.

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-2026-12809?

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

Sources

Also known as GHSA-x874-j4r9-66gh.

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