# MAL-2026-13954: Malicious code in minimalistic-assert-plus (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `minimalistic-assert-plus` (npm)
- **Published:** 13 Aug 2026

## What is MAL-2026-13954?

MAL-2026-13954 is a malicious package in minimalistic-assert-plus, published on 13 Aug 2026. 

### Official description

The package typosquats `minimalistic-assert` and re-ships the Chai library alongside a malicious dispatcher. On `require('minimalistic-assert-plus')`, index.js spawns a detached Node child (`spawn('node', [assertion,...], {detached:true, stdio:'ignore'})`) that runs lib/chai/utils/expectAssertion.js. That file is heavily obfuscated (obfuscator.io string-array + base64 rotation, hex-named identifiers such as _0x4b784f, _0x51bd34) and at runtime constructs an HTTP URL, performs an `http.get`, and passes the response body to `new Function(..., body)(require)` — evaluating attacker-supplied JavaScript with the real Node `require` in scope. Stdio is ignored and the process is detached to evade observation. Package metadata is deceptive: name mimics `minimalistic-assert`, description is copied from Chai, and homepage points to `minimalistic-assert-plus.com`.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-13954?

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-2026-13954 is a malicious package: minimalistic-assert-plus (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-2026-13954/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-13954/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-13954

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-13954/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.