# MAL-2026-14591: Malicious code in cacao1 (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `cacao1` (npm)
- **Published:** 28 Aug 2026

## What is MAL-2026-14591?

MAL-2026-14591 is a malicious package in cacao1, published on 28 Aug 2026. 

### Official description

The package has no advertised functionality (empty description, self-referential dependency on its own name at ^9.9.9). Its package.json declares both preinstall and postinstall lifecycle scripts that execute index.js, which reads os.hostname() and issues an HTTP GET to https://eo8f3m3ho26a0nm.m.pipedream.net/cacao1 with the hostname included as a query parameter. Installing the package therefore causes the installer's hostname to be transmitted to a hardcoded third-party collector controlled by the package author. The structure (empty description, self-dependency, lifecycle-triggered beacon to a pipedream.net collector, unusual 9.9.9 version) matches a dependency-confusion beacon rather than a functional library.

The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'cacao1' @ 9.9.9 (npm) as malicious.

It is considered malicious because:

- The package communicates with a domain associated with malicious activity.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-14591?

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-2026-14591 is a malicious package: cacao1 (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-2026-14591/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-14591/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-14591

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-14591/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.