# MAL-2026-3323: Malicious code in paypal-payouts-bridge (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `paypal-payouts-bridge` (npm)
- **Published:** 4 May 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fpch-j6rr-8r63

## What is MAL-2026-3323?

MAL-2026-3323 is a malicious package in paypal-payouts-bridge, published on 4 May 2026. 

### Official description

Malicious npm package published by the `microsop` threat actor as part of a dependency-confusion campaign that impersonates internal tooling at Microsoft, Google Cloud, and PayPal using inflated semver values (e.g. 99.9.x, 100.1.x) to win npm resolution against private internal packages. All packages in the campaign falsely advertise themselves as "Security Research PoC" and execute on `preinstall` via `node index.js`, exfiltrating to disposable `webhook.site` endpoints.

This package targets PayPal-flavored internal naming and performs internal-registry / build-environment discovery. On install it reads `/root/.npmrc` (token values are partially scrubbed before exfil but the registry URL is kept, revealing the victim's private registry), enumerates neighbor packages under `/app/node_modules` and `/node_modules`, and runs `npm search paypal --json --limit=20` against whatever registry is configured to enumerate other PayPal-named packages worth targeting. The collected output is POSTed to `https://webhook.site/db976f48-5e71-4746-a905-1af291c19c1f` tagged `event: LINUX_INTERNAL_DISCOVERY`. Source contains Indonesian-language operator comments matching the rest of the campaign.

The package paypal-payouts-bridge was found to contain malicious code.

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-2026-3323?

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-2026-3323 is a malicious package: paypal-payouts-bridge (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-2026-3323/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-3323/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-3323

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-3323/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.