# MAL-2026-4545: Malicious code in cwao-tools (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `cwao-tools` (npm)
- **Published:** 26 May 2026

## What is MAL-2026-4545?

MAL-2026-4545 is a malicious package in cwao-tools, published on 26 May 2026. 

### Official description

package.json declares "preinstall": "./scripts/postbuild", and scripts/postbuild is a 976,568-byte stripped Linux x86 ELF (sha256 36abd242…). The package advertises itself as a Node.js CosmWasm/AO contract scaffolding tool — a pure JavaScript use case with no documented native component. Nothing in README or index.js references this binary or any native build step, and no source for it is shipped. Strings extracted from the binary include LIBBPF, PTRACE, NETLINK_DIAG, RSA, Ed25519, HTTP/1.1, TLS, and USERPROFILE — kernel-introspection (eBPF/ptrace), cryptographic, and HTTP/TLS capability that has no relationship to scaffolding code generation. The script is named `postbuild` despite being wired to the `preinstall` lifecycle hook, a cover-story naming choice consistent with evading casual review. Running `npm install cwao-tools` immediately executes this opaque native binary with the installer's privileges, giving the publisher arbitrary code execution on the installer's machine on every install.

This package was compromised as part of the IronWorm campaign. This campaign executes a malicious binary payload during installation via a preinstall hook. The payload is a Rust-built infostealer that targets developer environments, scanning for and harvesting credentials related to cloud providers, object storage, databases, source-control, package registries, and AI developer tools. It also targets cryptocurrency wallets, specifically injecting a malicious JavaScript hook into the Exodus desktop wallet to capture passwords and recovery phrases. Furthermore, the malware exhibits worm-like behavior by stealing GitHub and NPM credentials to push malicious updates to the victim's repositories and publish trojanized packages, and it uses an eBPF-based kernel rootkit to hide its processes and network connections on Linux systems.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-4545?

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-2026-4545 is a malicious package: cwao-tools (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-2026-4545/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4545/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-4545

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4545/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.