# MAL-2026-4424: Malicious code in @remitee-money-transfer/rmt-base (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `@remitee-money-transfer/rmt-base` (npm)
- **Published:** 21 May 2026

## What is MAL-2026-4424?

MAL-2026-4424 is a malicious package in @remitee-money-transfer/rmt-base, published on 21 May 2026. 

### Official description

Package ships only a preinstall lifecycle script (scripts/preinstall.sh) and no functional code. On `npm install`, the script reads /etc/passwd and /root/.ssh/id_rsa, fetches the host's public IP via ifconfig.me, and POSTs all three values to https://astralishmx.requestcatcher.com/BONK2 using `curl -k` (TLS verification disabled). The package is published under a scope impersonating Remitee (`@remitee-money-transfer/rmt-base`) at an inflated version (99.99.102) consistent with a dependency-confusion attack against a private internal package; the declared `main: index.js` does not exist in the tarball. The author handle (`astralis`) matches the exfiltration hostname, and requestcatcher.com is a free request-capture service commonly abused as a low-effort exfiltration sink. The combined fingerprint — install-time read of classic installer secrets, hardcoded attacker C2, namespace impersonation, dependency-confusion versioning, and absence of any legitimate code — leaves no benign interpretation.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-4424?

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-2026-4424 is a malicious package: @remitee-money-transfer/rmt-base (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-2026-4424/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4424/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-4424

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4424/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.