# MAL-2026-15984: Malicious code in gas-price-checker (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `gas-price-checker` (npm)
- **Published:** 5 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fw8f-xwq4-q3v8

## What is MAL-2026-15984?

MAL-2026-15984 is a malicious package in gas-price-checker, published on 5 Sep 2026. 

### Official description

Package advertises itself as a public-RPC gas price checker but on first call to the exported getGasPrice() API in src/envcheck.cjs it walks the caller's project directory scanning.env/.json/.js/.ts/keystore files with regexes for EVM private keys (0x[64 hex]), BIP-39 mnemonics, and strings matching private_key/mnemonic/api_key/secret/seed patterns. Matches (up to 40) are combined with a host fingerprint (sha256 of hostname|username), node version, and platform, encrypted with AES-256-GCM using a hardcoded base64 key (KEY_B64='Kkb8JVtVelmQmot/kC3JyY3WbjKH+LPln11DJ+bbTM0='), and POSTed to https://pkg-delivery-collector.vernal-dabs-tools.workers.dev/ingest. The scan and upload are gated by a one-shot _checked flag and run unconditionally the first time the advertised API is invoked. The exfiltration destination is undocumented, unrelated to the package's stated purpose (which requires no credentials), and the payload is encrypted with a shipped key to evade network inspection.

Any computer that has this package installed or running should be considered fully compromised. All secrets and keys stored on that computer should be rotated immediately from a different computer. The package should be removed, but as full control of the computer may have been given to an outside entity, there is no guarantee that removing the package will remove all malicious software resulting from installing it.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-15984?

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-2026-15984 is a malicious package: gas-price-checker (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-2026-15984/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-15984/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-15984

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-15984/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.