# MAL-2026-16001: Malicious code in puppeteer-obscura (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `puppeteer-obscura` (npm)
- **Published:** 5 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-cxwq-q9c5-424v

## What is MAL-2026-16001?

MAL-2026-16001 is a malicious package in puppeteer-obscura, published on 5 Sep 2026. 

### Official description

On `npm install`, the package's postinstall hook (`node dist/install.js`) downloads a platform-specific binary from `https://github.com/h4ckf0r0day/obscura/releases/latest/download/<asset>`, writes it to disk, marks it executable (chmod), and the package later spawns it via `child_process.spawn`. Two structural issues make this an install-time remote code execution surface: (1) the URL uses GitHub's mutable `releases/latest` pointer with no version pin and no hash or signature verification, so the bytes delivered to every installer can change at any moment without a corresponding npm release; (2) the GitHub owner `h4ckf0r0day` (defined in `dist/constants.js` as `GITHUB_REPO = "h4ckf0r0day/obscura"`) does not match the npm publisher identity `yoannchb`/`yoannchb-pro` declared in `package.json` and `LICENSE`. Whoever controls the `h4ckf0r0day` GitHub account — which is not the npm publisher — can ship arbitrary native code to every installer of this package. The advertised purpose (a Chromium-like browser binary for Puppeteer) provides cover for an opaque executable that runs on the installer's machine.

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-2026-16001?

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-2026-16001 is a malicious package: puppeteer-obscura (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-2026-16001/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-16001/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-16001

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-16001/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.