# MAL-2026-14248: Malicious code in nice-utils-helper (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `nice-utils-helper` (npm)
- **Published:** 19 Aug 2026

## What is MAL-2026-14248?

MAL-2026-14248 is a malicious package in nice-utils-helper, published on 19 Aug 2026. 

### Official description

The npm package nice-utils-helper@1.0.0 executes probe.js from its postinstall lifecycle. On install, probe.js issues requests to cloud instance-metadata service endpoints (AWS 169.254.169.254, Aliyun 100.100.100.200, Tencent metadata.tencentyun.com, 169.254.0.23) using curl/http.request/GET and records per-target reachability along with the host's hostname and cwd. It then writes NCODE_META.txt and NCODE_POC_MARKER.txt into the current directory as well as../ and../.., leaving beacon/marker artifacts above the package root. The package advertises itself as a 'game metadata' utility and self-labels the probing as an 'Authorized PoC', but the executed behavior is unsolicited cloud-environment reconnaissance and cross-directory file writes on the installer's machine at install time, unrelated to any advertised utility functionality.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-14248?

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-2026-14248 is a malicious package: nice-utils-helper (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-2026-14248/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-14248/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-14248

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-14248/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.