# MAL-2026-4662: Malicious code in rendezvous-js (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `rendezvous-js` (npm)
- **Published:** 20 May 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-cj5p-rpr4-5cvh, GHSA-q26f-8xxj-pwwf

## What is MAL-2026-4662?

MAL-2026-4662 is a malicious package in rendezvous-js, published on 20 May 2026. 

### Official description

On `npm install` (scripts.install runs `node index.js`) and on `require('rendezvous-js')`, lib/core.js collects `os.userInfo().username`, `os.hostname()`, and the basename of `process.cwd()`, then issues a DNS A-record lookup for `lwrendezvous.<user>.<host>.<cwd>.<timestamp>.oob.sl4x0.xyz`. The query encodes installer host identity into the subdomain so it reaches the attacker's authoritative nameserver — a standard DNS-tunnel exfiltration channel that bypasses HTTP egress filtering. The destination domain (`oob.sl4x0.xyz`), the imported module names (`os`, `dns`, `process`), and method names (`userInfo`, `hostname`, `cwd`, `resolve4`) are all stored as decimal char-code arrays in lib/b02e30.js and lib/6ad264.js and decoded at runtime via `String.fromCharCode` solely to hide the channel from review. The README explicitly claims 'No network requests / No file system access', directly contradicting the shipped code. The author email `research@sl4x0.xyz` matches the exfil domain, and the beacon prefix `lwrendezvous` plus generic 'Enterprise Tools Team' authorship are consistent with a typosquat/dependency-confusion lure. Installer harm fires both at install time and at require time without consent.

Any computer that has this package installed or running should be considered fully compromised. All secrets and keys stored on that computer should be rotated immediately from a different computer. The package should be removed, but as full control of the computer may have been given to an outside entity, there is no guarantee that removing the package will remove all malicious software resulting from installing it.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-4662?

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-2026-4662 is a malicious package: rendezvous-js (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-2026-4662/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4662/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-4662

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4662/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.