MAL-2026-16478 Malicious code in event-hunter (npm)
Malicious package
Published
MAL-2026-16478 is a malicious package: event-hunter (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-2026-16478/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-16478/index.md)
- Package
- event-hunter
- Registry
- npm
What is MAL-2026-16478?
MAL-2026-16478 is a malicious package in event-hunter, published on 23 Sep 2026.
Official description
On
npm install, the declared postinstall hook runs node index.js, which reads os.hostname() and a timestamp, base64-encodes the JSON payload, and issues an HTTPS GET to https://estimator-nemeses-unwatched.ngrok-free.dev/canary?d=<base64>. The destination is a hardcoded ngrok tunnel unrelated to any registry or vendor infrastructure, and the beacon fires automatically without any caller action or opt-in. The package's own metadata describes it as a Dependency Confusion to RCE proof-of-concept, and the install-time callback carries the installer's internal hostname to an external third party.What should I do about MAL-2026-16478?
Remove the package from your dependencies and lockfiles, then rotate any secrets on machines where it was installed.