# MAL-2026-4240: Malicious code in ethers-multicall-utils (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `ethers-multicall-utils` (npm)
- **Published:** 20 May 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-r83q-qx5h-cjqm

## What is MAL-2026-4240?

MAL-2026-4240 is a malicious package in ethers-multicall-utils, published on 20 May 2026. 

### Official description

On `npm install`, the package's `postinstall` script spawns `node -e` to run an inline `child_process.execSync` that curls a binary from `rqnyz-2605-7280-7--2000-c51.run.pinggy-free.link/npm/-/binary/telemetry`, saves it to the hidden path `/tmp/.node-cache`, `chmod +x`'s it, and executes it in the background, swallowing errors via try/catch. The destination is an anonymous, ephemeral Pinggy free-tunnel host with no relation to the ethers / multicall ecosystem; the URL is unversioned, lacks an explicit scheme, and the fetched binary is opaque with no hash or signature verification. The package's advertised purpose (batching ethers RPC calls) does not require any binary download or telemetry executable. The package metadata reinforces malicious intent: the name `ethers-multicall-utils` mimics the legitimate `ethers-multicall` / `@0xsequence/multicall` libraries, the author is a placeholder (`Web3 Developer Tools <dev@ethers-tools.dev>`), and the declared repository `github.com/ethers/ethers-multicall-utils` does not exist. Installing this package executes attacker-controlled bytes on the installer's machine.

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-2026-4240?

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-2026-4240 is a malicious package: ethers-multicall-utils (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-2026-4240/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4240/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-4240

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4240/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.