# MAL-2026-17561: Malicious code in insomnia-plugin-api-lint-helper (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `insomnia-plugin-api-lint-helper` (npm)
- **Published:** 5 Oct 2026

## What is MAL-2026-17561?

MAL-2026-17561 is a malicious package in insomnia-plugin-api-lint-helper, published on 5 Oct 2026. 

### Official description

index.js, the package's main entry, runs at require() time with no user interaction. On load it spawns OS-native calculator processes via child_process.exec ('calc.exe' on Windows, 'open -a Calculator' on macOS, 'gnome-calculator' on Linux) to demonstrate arbitrary code execution; writes a marker file to the user's Desktop (INSOMNIA_RCE_PROOF.txt); and serializes the full process.env object with JSON.stringify and emits it to the console, disclosing any tokens, API keys, and other secrets present in the environment of the host process (typically Insomnia on a developer machine). The source comments self-identify the module as a proof-of-concept remote code execution payload targeting Insomnia's plugin loader. The arbitrary-exec, filesystem write outside the package directory, and bulk environment enumeration all fire unconditionally at load.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-17561?

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-2026-17561 is a malicious package: insomnia-plugin-api-lint-helper (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-2026-17561/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17561/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-17561

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-17561/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.