# MAL-2026-5418: Malicious code in @nstrlabs/api-client (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `@nstrlabs/api-client` (npm)
- **Published:** 9 Jun 2026

## What is MAL-2026-5418?

MAL-2026-5418 is a malicious package in @nstrlabs/api-client, published on 9 Jun 2026. 

### Official description

@nstrlabs/api-client@99.0.0 is a hollow package whose only behavior is an install-time exfiltration beacon. package.json declares `"preinstall": "node index.js || true"`, so every `npm install` automatically executes index.js, which collects `os.hostname()`, `os.userInfo().username`, `__dirname`, and `process.cwd()` and ships them through two independent channels: (1) a DNS lookup against a subdomain of `d8jbmnsqcfu78dfs8vdg34ohqhirb4pbg.oast.live` (OAST-style out-of-band callback) encoding the collected fields, and (2) an HTTP POST of the JSON payload to the hardcoded bare IP `172.201.213.59:9090/c`. Errors are swallowed with `|| true` to keep the install appearing successful. The package ships no API-client functionality; the version-bomb to 99.0.0 under the `@nstrlabs` scope, combined with the `security research` description and beacon-only payload, is the canonical dependency-confusion shape — designed to outrank a private internal `@nstrlabs/api-client` and silently identify hosts inside the target organization's build environment.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-5418?

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-2026-5418 is a malicious package: @nstrlabs/api-client (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-2026-5418/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5418/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-5418

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5418/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.