# MAL-2026-17173: Malicious code in chromatitle (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `chromatitle` (npm)
- **Published:** 25 Sep 2026

## What is MAL-2026-17173?

MAL-2026-17173 is a malicious package in chromatitle, published on 25 Sep 2026. 

### Official description

chromatitle advertises itself as an ANSI color/title formatting library but its main entry src/index.js unconditionally calls _bootstrap() at top level, transferring control to src/utils/bootstrap.js. bootstrap.js is a ~51KB javascript-obfuscator artifact (rotated string array, RC4-style decoder, self-defending IIFE, hex-mangled identifiers such as _0x59ef48/_0x4c3a73/_0xbac3ae) that imports https.get and child_process.execFile and consumes a getSystemInfo helper returning the host platform (windows/linux/macos/freebsd/sunos). The combination of import-time execution, platform-gated branching, remote HTTPS fetch, and subprocess execution inside a file whose contents are deliberately concealed matches the fetch-and-execute dropper shape. A terminal color/title formatter has no functional need for child_process or outbound HTTPS at import time, and the obfuscation hides the destination host and the command handed to execFile. Any downstream package that requires or imports chromatitle triggers this loader on load.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-17173?

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-2026-17173 is a malicious package: chromatitle (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-2026-17173/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17173/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-17173

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17173/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.