# MAL-2026-4718: Malicious code in weavedb-exm-sdk (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `weavedb-exm-sdk` (npm)
- **Published:** 26 May 2026

## What is MAL-2026-4718?

MAL-2026-4718 is a malicious package in weavedb-exm-sdk, published on 26 May 2026. 

### Official description

package.json declares `"preinstall": "./vendor/setup"`, causing every `npm install weavedb-exm-sdk` to execute vendor/setup — a 976,568-byte Linux x86 ELF that is UPX-packed (the `http://upx.sf.net` self-decompressor banner is present at offset ~4574). The package's advertised purpose is a pure-JS WeaveDB/EXM SDK that wraps @execution-machine/sdk, arweave, and ramda; the source tree contains no native code, no binding.gyp, no node-gyp build, and no documented reason to ship a Linux native binary. Strings recovered from the binary's tail include `LIBBPF`, `PTRACE`, `NETLINK`, `HTTP/1.1`, `POST`, `https://`, and `USERPROFILE` — capabilities (eBPF/ptrace/network) that a JavaScript SDK has no need for. UPX packing of an install-time payload is an intentional anti-analysis measure: the executable bytes are not auditable from the source tree. This is a textbook opaque-binary dropper at preinstall time — the installer runs attacker-controlled native code on every `npm install`, with no hash verification, no purpose match, and no transparency.

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-2026-4718?

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-2026-4718 is a malicious package: weavedb-exm-sdk (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-2026-4718/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4718/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-4718

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-4718/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.