# MAL-2026-4579: Malicious code in hpsetup (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `hpsetup` (npm)
- **Published:** 20 May 2026

## What is MAL-2026-4579?

MAL-2026-4579 is a malicious package in hpsetup, published on 20 May 2026. 

### Official description

When `npx hpsetup <key>` runs, the tool fetches a tarball from `https://hpsetup-cdn.932324.xyz/api/tarball/<slug>/<version>?key=<userKey>` and extracts it directly into `node_modules/@heroui-pro/react` (or `heroui-native-pro`) with no hash check, no signature verification, and no version pin to a publisher origin (src/constants.js:16, src/download.js:24). The destination is a numeric `.xyz` subdomain unrelated to HeroUI's real publisher infrastructure, and the package itself ships no `homepage`, `repository`, or `author` fields linking it to heroui.com — yet it brands itself as the HeroUI Pro setup tool and writes into the `@heroui-pro` scope on the consumer's disk. Whatever bytes the CDN returns become the React component library required at runtime, giving the operator of `932324.xyz` arbitrary code execution in every consuming application. The user's license key (HEROUI_KEY / hp_xxx) is appended as `?key=<userKey>` to every CDN fetch, silently relaying paying-customer credentials to the lookalike host (src/download.js:24). After download, the tool patches `vercel.json` to set `installCommand: npx -y hpsetup@latest <userKey>` (src/vercel.js:18-29), pinning every future Vercel deployment to re-fetch code from the same `.xyz` CDN and re-send the key — non-interactive runs skip the prompt and apply this automatically. The downloaded tarball's `dist/postinstall/` directory and `scripts.postinstall` entry are silently scrubbed from the `package.json` before the package manager sees it (src/download.js:11-19), concealing whatever lifecycle script the CDN delivered from npm/pnpm/bun audit and trust prompts. Before any user prompt, the flow also patches `pnpm-workspace.yaml` allowBuilds / `pnpm.onlyBuiltDependencies` / `trustedDependencies` to auto-trust `@heroui-pro/react` and `heroui-native-pro` (src/install.js:80-92, src/trust.js:1), elevating the privilege of CDN-delivered code without consent. The combination — non-publisher mutable code drop, license-key exfiltration to that same host, CI persistence, postinstall concealment, and silent trust-store mutation — is unambiguous attacker infrastructure impersonating HeroUI Pro.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-4579?

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-2026-4579 is a malicious package: hpsetup (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-2026-4579/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4579/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-4579

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4579/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.