# MAL-2026-3707: Malicious code in ethers-common (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `ethers-common` (npm)
- **Published:** 13 May 2026

## What is MAL-2026-3707?

MAL-2026-3707 is a malicious package in ethers-common, published on 13 May 2026. 

### Official description

package.json declares a postinstall hook that base64-decodes the URL http://8.217.75.147:3000/payload, fetches it via curl over plain HTTP, and pipes the response directly into bash. This executes attacker-controlled code on every installer's machine at `npm install` time, with no integrity verification and an obfuscated (base64) destination. The package itself is a hollow lure: index.js exports an empty object, and the package name and description ("Utilities for Web3/ethers development") impersonate the well-known `ethers` Web3 library to bait installs. The combination of bare-IP C2, plain HTTP, base64-obfuscated URL, curl|bash dropper in a lifecycle hook, and an empty cover-story library is unambiguous supply-chain attack.

The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'ethers-common' @ 1.0.0 (npm) as malicious.

It is considered malicious because:

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

## What should I do about MAL-2026-3707?

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-2026-3707 is a malicious package: ethers-common (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-2026-3707/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-3707/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-3707

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-3707/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.