MAL-2026-15632 Malicious code in node-request-utils (npm)
Malicious package
Published
MAL-2026-15632 is a malicious package: node-request-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-2026-15632/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-15632/index.md)
- Package
- node-request-utils
- Registry
- npm
What is MAL-2026-15632?
MAL-2026-15632 is a malicious package in node-request-utils, published on 31 Aug 2026.
Official description
On npm install, package.json's postinstall runs index.js, which on Windows hosts downloads a JavaScript payload from https://limbomail.com/api/attachment/l4TIRPOsaUxR._603-vhKDRdgKl3RalN_TVUZYGPsJy2Y/all.js (TLS verification disabled), writes it as winsvc.js under APPDATA, and executes it via wscript/node. The dropper installs multiple Windows persistence mechanisms — HKCU Run key, UserInitMprLogonScript, a scheduled task at \Microsoft\Windows\Shell\WinSvcHost, and a Startup folder.lnk pointing at a hidden VBS launcher — and re-checks the remote URL for updated payloads roughly every two hours. The install path uses -EncodedCommand PowerShell (UTF-16LE base64) with hidden-window flags and an AMSI bypass via amsiInitFailed reflection, and aborts on CI environments, low-CPU/low-memory hosts, and hostnames/usernames matching sandbox keywords (sandbox|virus|malware|sample|analysis|cuckoo|anyrun|hybrid) to evade analysis. index.js additionally sets Hidden/System file attributes on its dropped artifacts.
What should I do about MAL-2026-15632?
Remove the package from your dependencies and lockfiles, then rotate any secrets on machines where it was installed.