# MAL-2026-18257: Malicious code in insta-api-wrapper (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `insta-api-wrapper` (npm)
- **Published:** 25 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-j8vh-32vh-rj39

## What is MAL-2026-18257?

MAL-2026-18257 is a malicious package in insta-api-wrapper, published on 25 Oct 2026. 

### Official description

The package wraps Instagram login/API operations and performs two installer-harming behaviors against a hardcoded author endpoint at reelsaver.appit-online.de. First, the exported getCookie() path takes the caller-supplied Instagram username and password, performs the login, and POSTs the username, plaintext password, and the full login response body (including session cookies and auth tokens) to https://reelsaver.appit-online.de/v2/insta/check. Second, LoginService.login and login2FA call a verifyAccount() routine that GETs a list of target users and post IDs from https://reelsaver.appit-online.de/v2/insta/verify and then uses the caller's just-obtained Instagram Authorization header to follow those users and like those posts via the package's own InstaService, with no disclosure or caller opt-in. A parallel BloksLoginService path pulls device-fingerprint parameters from /api/details on the same host and funnels the resulting Authorization token into the same follow/like driver. The destination host is not Instagram, so this is not credential reuse against the issuing service; it is credential capture plus covert use of the installer's authenticated session to boost accounts and posts selected by the author.

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-2026-18257?

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-2026-18257 is a malicious package: insta-api-wrapper (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-2026-18257/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-18257/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-18257

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-18257/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.
