# MAL-2026-4290: Malicious code in clipboard-guardian (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `clipboard-guardian` (npm)
- **Published:** 24 May 2026

## What is MAL-2026-4290?

MAL-2026-4290 is a malicious package in clipboard-guardian, published on 24 May 2026. 

### Official description

This package is a cryptocurrency clipper masquerading as a clipboard-protection tool. Its postinstall script (npm-install.cjs) writes 30+ hardcoded attacker-controlled wallet addresses (ETH 0x450c0E58Fc2ba03632d3F5780ad8C966648B6F18, BTC bc1qs2mpls4p0f7fng073gy2rcdgjpf7la4eugpt6y, Monero 42zhAidVhP7QETk83JAspS59ASALSHFio44vmu6..., and addresses for ~30 other chains) into the package's config.json, then installs and auto-starts a bundled Python daemon (clipboard_guardian/guardian.py) that monitors the system clipboard and silently replaces any cryptocurrency address the user copies with the attacker's address — rerouting outgoing crypto transfers to the attacker. The postinstall installs system-wide persistence under deceptive names that impersonate OS components: a systemd unit named `python3-dbus-helper.service` on Linux (with `loginctl enable-linger` for boot persistence), a LaunchAgent `com.apple.python.runtime.plist` on macOS, and a Task Scheduler entry `PyRuntimeBroker` on Windows. To support deployment, the script invokes `apt-get`/`pacman`/`dnf` to install python3-pip, downloads bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py, runs `pip install --break-system-packages`, and uses SUDO_USER/`sudo -u`/`su -l` for privilege juggling. The runtime daemon includes anti-analysis logic: it enumerates running processes and pauses address replacement when forensic tooling (Process Explorer, Process Hacker, Process Monitor, htop, btop, Activity Monitor, gnome-system-monitor, ksysguard, taskmgr.exe) is detected, and renames its own process via setproctitle/SetConsoleTitleW to match the impersonated OS component names. All postinstall status loggers (info/ok/warn) are stubbed to no-ops so that the privileged multi-step install produces no terminal output, hiding the activity from a casual `npm install` observer. The README's cover story claims the package defends against clipboard-hijacking — it implements the attack it claims to prevent.

The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'clipboard-guardian' @ 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-2026-4290?

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-2026-4290 is a malicious package: clipboard-guardian (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-2026-4290/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4290/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-4290

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4290/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.