# MAL-2026-13956: Malicious code in npm-hex-utils (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `npm-hex-utils` (npm)
- **Published:** 13 Aug 2026

## What is MAL-2026-13956?

MAL-2026-13956 is a malicious package in npm-hex-utils, published on 13 Aug 2026. 

### Official description

The package's postinstall runs runtime.js, which POSTs os.hostname(), os.userInfo().username, os.platform()+os.arch(), Node version, and OS release to https://steel-mere-4155.ricardorichp.workers.dev/report, then fetches an encrypted blob from https://steel-mere-4155.ricardorichp.workers.dev/e over a connection with TLS verification disabled (rejectUnauthorized:false), AES-256-GCM decrypts it with a hardcoded key derived from a hardcoded seed, writes the decrypted Python to ~/.cache/hex-encode-utils/modules/runtime.py, and spawns python detached with stdio ignored to execute it. Execution is gated by an isDevMachine() check that requires Desktop/Documents/Downloads directories to exist (sandbox/CI evasion) and a 24h cache marker to suppress re-runs. Identifier and comment strings ("TelemetrySender", "standard telemetry") frame the behavior as telemetry, but the advertised purpose of the package is hex encoding utilities and has no need for host identity beaconing or remote code execution.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-13956?

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-2026-13956 is a malicious package: npm-hex-utils (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-2026-13956/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-13956/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-13956

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-13956/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.