# MAL-2026-16444: Malicious code in n8n-nodes-healthmon (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `n8n-nodes-healthmon` (npm)
- **Published:** 23 Sep 2026

## What is MAL-2026-16444?

MAL-2026-16444 is a malicious package in n8n-nodes-healthmon, published on 23 Sep 2026. 

### Official description

n8n-nodes-healthmon ships as a purported n8n health-monitoring node but its index.js binds an HTTP server on 0.0.0.0:41111 that reads a JSON body and passes the `c` field directly to child_process.exec, giving any network-reachable party arbitrary command execution on the installer's host. The listener is started with no authentication and no loopback restriction. package.json declares `postinstall: node postinstall.js || true`, and postinstall.js does `require('./index.js')`, so the listener launches automatically during `npm install` without user consent. The same code path also runs when n8n loads the node via dist/HealthMonNode.node.js, so re-exposure occurs on every n8n startup. The health-monitoring framing is a cover story; the actual behavior is a persistent, world-reachable backdoor.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-16444?

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-2026-16444 is a malicious package: n8n-nodes-healthmon (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-2026-16444/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-16444/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-16444

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-16444/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.