# MAL-2026-18377: Malicious code in spectral-core (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `spectral-core` (npm)
- **Published:** 29 Oct 2026

## What is MAL-2026-18377?

MAL-2026-18377 is a malicious package in spectral-core, published on 29 Oct 2026. 

### Official description

The tarball ships only package.json and binding.gyp (plus a markdown file), with gypfile: true set in package.json so npm invokes node-gyp rebuild on install. binding.gyp declares a 'none'-type target with no native source files; its sole purpose is an inline action that runs `node -e` with an embedded script. At install time that script reads /proc/1/environ and /proc/self/environ (container/pod entrypoint environment variables, which routinely contain CI/CD secrets and cloud credentials), collects DNS/socket/ARP/route reconnaissance output, queries the AWS EC2 instance metadata service at 169.254.169.254 for user-data and meta-data, and POSTs the collected data to the hardcoded collector https://webhook.site/d6092bdc-05c0-45da-a280-c343ea6d6156. The package exposes no library functionality — main: index.js is declared but index.js is not shipped — so the binding.gyp exists solely as a vehicle for install-time code execution and credential exfiltration. The name resembles the legitimate @stoplight/spectral-core project but the shipped contents are unrelated to it.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-18377?

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-2026-18377 is a malicious package: spectral-core (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-2026-18377/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-18377/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-18377

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-18377/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.