# MAL-2026-5286: Malicious code in encrypted-archive (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `encrypted-archive` (npm)
- **Published:** 6 Jun 2026

## What is MAL-2026-5286?

MAL-2026-5286 is a malicious package in encrypted-archive, published on 6 Jun 2026. 

### Official description

On `npm install`, the package executes a preinstall hook (`package.json` `"preinstall": "node index.js || true"`) that runs `index.js`, which performs a DNS resolution and HTTPS GET to a hardcoded interactsh/oast.me subdomain (`d8hjn6ap4rnta9vj5ve0jk11seb4k3kci.oast.me`). Each install leaks the resolver IP, public egress IP, hostname-derived identifier, and install timestamp to a third-party out-of-band interaction server. The package's own metadata states it is a dependency-confusion proof-of-concept squatting an internal Ubiquiti namespace; any build system that resolves this name from the public registry instead of the intended private registry will silently run the beacon. Regardless of the author's stated research intent, the install-time network I/O to an attacker-controlled OOB host is the canonical dependency-confusion exploitation primitive and exfiltrates installer-side network/identity data.

The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'encrypted-archive' @ 99.0.0 (npm) as malicious.

It is considered malicious because:

- The package communicates with a domain associated with malicious activity.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-5286?

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-2026-5286 is a malicious package: encrypted-archive (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-2026-5286/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5286/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-5286

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5286/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.