# MAL-2026-4349: Malicious code in clob.api (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `clob.api` (npm)
- **Published:** 25 May 2026

## What is MAL-2026-4349?

MAL-2026-4349 is a malicious package in clob.api, published on 25 May 2026. 

### Official description

A campaign of npm packages sharing a common dropper (`clob.js`) that downloads and persistently installs a Windows executable from IPFS on `postinstall`. The dropper fetches the binary from IPFS CID `bafybeif3zkapj364ofnrvbty7oj5h5ufpxlp4s62usk3ulxrru35e3gssa` via multiple public gateways (Pinata, Cloudflare, ipfs.io), drops it to `%LOCALAPPDATA%`, registers Windows Registry persistence under `HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run` using a hidden VBScript wrapper (window style 0, no taskbar entry), launches the payload immediately, and reports the victim's public IP address to a hardcoded C2 server via HTTP POST. macOS and Linux stubs are present but not yet configured. Developer artifacts bundled in `config/meta_data.json` leak the attacker's build path: `E:\getting IP and check list\clob-downloader\`.

`clob.api` bundles `clob2.0.exe` (≈4 MB) directly in the package tarball and also attempts to fetch an identical copy from IPFS at install time. Its `postinstall` script runs `clob.js`, which drops the executable to `%LOCALAPPDATA%\clob2.0.exe`. The C2 beacon transmits the victim's public IP to `http://45.8.22.112:2026/api/urls`.

On install, package.json's postinstall hook runs node clob.js, which (1) downloads clob2.0.exe (Windows) or clob (macOS/Linux) from IPFS gateways including violet-tricky-quelea-562.mypinata.cloud, cloudflare-ipfs.com, ipfs.io, and gateway.pinata.cloud, falling back to a 4 MB clob2.0.exe PE binary bundled directly in the tarball; (2) writes the binary to %LOCALAPPDATA% / ~/.local/bin and launches it hidden via a generated VBS launcher invoked through wscript.exe //nologo with windowsHide:true; (3) installs autorun across all three operating systems — HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run on Windows, ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.clob.agent.plist with launchctl load on macOS, and ~/.config/autostart/clob.desktop on Linux; and (4) resolves the installer's public IP via api.ipify.org and POSTs it to a hardcoded bare-IP C2 endpoint at http://45.8.22.112:2026/api/urls?url=<public_ip>. The README is verbatim copied from @img/sharp-win32-x64 to impersonate the legitimate Sharp prebuilt, while package.json's own description ("Downloads clob2.0.exe on install") contradicts the README — this is deliberate camouflage. The bundled PE is undocumented and serves no advertised purpose.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-4349?

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-2026-4349 is a malicious package: clob.api (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-2026-4349/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4349/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-4349

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4349/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.