# MAL-2026-17474: Malicious code in core-js-gnz (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `core-js-gnz` (npm)
- **Published:** 4 Oct 2026

## What is MAL-2026-17474?

MAL-2026-17474 is a malicious package in core-js-gnz, published on 4 Oct 2026. 

### Official description

On install, package.json runs `node init.js` as a postinstall hook. init.js collects host identifiers (os.hostname(), os.userInfo().username, os.platform(), os.arch(), node version, OS release) and POSTs them to https://helper.businesse-vip1.workers.dev/report, then fetches an AES-256-GCM encrypted blob from the /e endpoint on the same host (with TLS verification disabled via rejectUnauthorized:false), decrypts it in-process, writes the decoded content to the user cache directory as exec_runtime.py, and spawns a detached python3 process to execute it (stdio:'ignore', windowsHide, detached:true). Execution is gated on developer-machine heuristics (presence of Desktop/Documents/Downloads in the home directory) and rate-limited via a hidden ~/.cache/core-js-buffer/.init_check marker, with cover-story identifiers ('Environment check', 'TelemetrySender', a BIP-174 seed label). The package name and README advertise an unrelated hex-buffer utility, which does not match the observed behavior.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-17474?

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-2026-17474 is a malicious package: core-js-gnz (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-2026-17474/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17474/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-17474

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17474/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.