# MAL-2026-4703: Malicious code in veteran (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `veteran` (npm)
- **Published:** 21 May 2026

## What is MAL-2026-4703?

MAL-2026-4703 is a malicious package in veteran, published on 21 May 2026. 

### Official description

On `npm install`, the package's postinstall hook (`install.js`, registered via `package.json` line 10 `"postinstall": "node install.js"`) downloads a platform-specific executable from `https://laogou.us/download/veteran/v1.0.0/veteran_1.0.0_<platform>_<arch>.{tar.gz,zip}` (install.js:13 `const DOWNLOAD_BASE_URL = 'https://laogou.us/download/veteran'`), extracts it via shell `tar`/`unzip`, `chmod 0o755`s it (install.js:165), and immediately executes it (install.js:170 `execSync("${BIN_PATH}" version",...)`). The download host `laogou.us` does not match the package's declared publisher/homepage (`github.com/yongjie0203/veteran`); the URL is not version-pinned to a hash or signature; no checksum or signature verification is performed on the fetched bytes; and source comments suggest the URL is meant to be swapped by future maintainers. The operator of `laogou.us` can therefore serve arbitrary native code to every installer, with the bytes executed under the installer's user on `npm install`. This matches the publisher-mismatched, unverified, mutable-host dropper pattern.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-4703?

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-2026-4703 is a malicious package: veteran (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-2026-4703/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4703/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-4703

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4703/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.