# MAL-2026-17230: Malicious code in llm-nebula (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `llm-nebula` (npm)
- **Published:** 28 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-w7wp-5j6j-rgg5

## What is MAL-2026-17230?

MAL-2026-17230 is a malicious package in llm-nebula, published on 28 Sep 2026. 

### Official description

Package presents itself as an LLM SDK (nebula.js exposes a small client stub) but declares `preinstall: node preinstall.cjs` in package.json, and preinstall.cjs is a ~232KB single-line obfuscated blob that runs automatically on `npm install`. The script wraps its body in a `Function(...)` constructor and uses a custom PRNG-based string decoder (TEA/xorshift-style constants 0x9e3779b9 / 0x243f6a88 / 0x6a09e667) over a packed printable-ASCII string plus a hex-int array to reconstruct characters via `String.fromCharCode`, driving a control-flow-flattened switch dispatcher. Node builtins and method names are resolved dynamically at runtime (e.g. `Ooa8zU["Bd5Wj1"]("fs")`) so module ids, filesystem paths, network destinations, and command strings are not visible without executing the decoder. This obfuscation-plus-lifecycle-hook composition is the canonical install-time dropper / RCE shape: the benign-looking library entry serves as a cover story while the hidden preinstall payload runs on any consumer's machine at install time with the user's privileges, capable of arbitrary filesystem, process, and network operations.

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-2026-17230?

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-2026-17230 is a malicious package: llm-nebula (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-2026-17230/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17230/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-17230

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17230/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.