MAL-2026-5445 Malicious code in grateful-payments (npm)
Malicious package
Published
MAL-2026-5445 is a malicious package: grateful-payments (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-2026-5445/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5445/index.md)
- Package
- grateful-payments
- Registry
- npm
What is MAL-2026-5445?
MAL-2026-5445 is a malicious package in grateful-payments, published on 9 Jun 2026.
Official description
On
npm install, the package's postinstall script (src/canary.js) performs a DNS lookup and HTTPS GET to the hardcoded host 96e03fa6c292469a-172-245-86-254.serveousercontent.com at path /c. serveousercontent.com is an anonymous reverse-tunnel service, so the destination is operator-controlled and not tied to a verifiable publisher. Every installer's machine emits an unconsented outbound network call at install time, revealing source IP, DNS resolver path, and install timing to the tunnel operator — a classic install-fleet beaconing pattern used to confirm compromise reach. The package's own metadata describes itself as a HackerOne research canary with an empty main module, but the install-time network behavior is identical to a real install-time beacon and runs on anyone who installs this version.What should I do about MAL-2026-5445?
Remove the package from your dependencies and lockfiles, then rotate any secrets on machines where it was installed.