MAL-2026-3312 Malicious code in path-internal-util (npm)

On require(), path.js executes an IIFE that calls loadTokenData(), which fetches a base64-obfuscated URL (decoding to https://www.jsonkeeper.com/b/CWOV9), parses the JSON response, and passes data.content directly to eval(). The remote paste is mutable by whoever controls the jsonkeeper entry, so any installer that imports the package executes arbitrary attacker-controlled JavaScript in-process at import time. The package name impersonates Node's built-in path module and the README claims to be 'an exact copy of the NodeJS path module', increasing the chance of accidental installation by developers seeking a path polyfill.

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.

The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'path-internal-util' @ 1.0.1 (npm) as malicious.

It is considered malicious because:

• The package communicates with a domain associated with malicious activity.

• The package executes one or more commands associated with malicious behavior.