# MAL-2026-16435: Malicious code in catqrcodeconverter (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `catqrcodeconverter` (npm)
- **Published:** 23 Sep 2026

## What is MAL-2026-16435?

MAL-2026-16435 is a malicious package in catqrcodeconverter, published on 23 Sep 2026. 

### Official description

Package catqrcodeconverter@99.2.1 wires both preinstall and postinstall lifecycle hooks in package.json to execute scripts/run.js. On npm install, run.js reads the installer's OS username via os.userInfo() and hostname via os.hostname() and POSTs them as JSON (with the package name) to a hardcoded collector at https://webhook.site/8beeee0f-4dd4-4b25-8588-5a5f83fe6ed2, and issues a DNS canary lookup to 8beeee0f-4dd4-4b25-8588-5a5f83fe6ed2.dnshook.site. The implausibly high version number (99.2.1) is consistent with a dependency-confusion lure intended to win resolution against an internal package name. Installer host identifiers are transmitted to an attacker-controlled endpoint without any user interaction beyond the install command.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-16435?

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-2026-16435 is a malicious package: catqrcodeconverter (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-2026-16435/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-16435/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-16435

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-16435/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.