MAL-2026-5356 Malicious code in ethereum-kit-9 (npm)
- Package
- ethereum-kit-9
- Registry
- npm
What is MAL-2026-5356?
MAL-2026-5356 is a malicious package in ethereum-kit-9, published on 9 Jun 2026.
Official description
Crypto/SSH/wallet stealer, blockchain-helper-0 campaign sibling (c960+). postinstall auto-execs, src/index.js harvests ~/.ssh/id_rsa+id_ed25519+Sol/Eth/BTC/Tron/Sui/Aptos wallets+.env+seeds, self-labels "CRYPTO STEALER", exfils to SAME Telegram bot 8227918239 chat 6433587894 (not rotated). Campaign now uses inflated version (1.25.36) not 1.0.0.
On npm install, the package's postinstall hook loads src/index.js, which after a short delay and a sandbox/CI evasion check enumerates the installer's home and project directories for sensitive files and uploads each one to api.telegram.org using a hardcoded bot token and chat_id. Targeted paths include SSH private keys (/.ssh/id_rsa, id_ed25519), crypto wallet keystores and data directories for Solana, Ethereum (/.ethereum/keystore), Bitcoin, Tron, Sui, and Aptos, and project secrets (.env,.env.local, mnemonic.txt, seed.txt, wallet.json, private.key, secrets.json). The payload skips execution when CI/sandbox indicators are present (CI=true, GITHUB_ACTIONS, NODE_ENV=test/development, usernames like runner/sandbox/docker/jenkins, and 12-hex-char container hostnames) to evade analysis. The package name and generic 'Utility library' description with placeholder author impersonate Ethereum tooling to lure developers.
What should I do about MAL-2026-5356?
Remove the package from your dependencies and lockfiles, then rotate any secrets on machines where it was installed.