# MAL-2026-5451: Malicious code in privacy-sdk (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `privacy-sdk` (npm)
- **Published:** 9 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wrgr-9636-hfmh

## What is MAL-2026-5451?

MAL-2026-5451 is a malicious package in privacy-sdk, published on 9 Jun 2026. 

### Official description

privacy-sdk@99.9.1 is a hollow wrapper (index.js is `module.exports = {}`, blank description, blank author) whose sole runtime dependency is declared as a raw tarball URL: `"ltidisafe": "https://ltidi.storage.googleapis.com/depenconf/ltidisafe-2.8.9.tgz"`. On `npm install privacy-sdk`, npm fetches that tarball directly from the GCS bucket — bypassing the npm registry's publication, audit, and integrity-hash mechanisms — and installs it, executing any lifecycle scripts (preinstall/install/postinstall) bundled inside. The bucket and `depenconf` path do not correspond to any identifiable publisher, the URL has no integrity field, and the bytes at that URL are mutable by whoever controls the bucket. The version `99.9.1` is the canonical high-version dependency-confusion pattern used to outrank an organization's internal `privacy-sdk` package, and the generic name compounds that risk. The package has no advertised functionality of its own; its only effect on install is to deliver attacker-controlled code into the installer's environment via the smuggled tarball.

Any computer that has this package installed or running should be considered fully compromised. All secrets and keys stored on that computer should be rotated immediately from a different computer. The package should be removed, but as full control of the computer may have been given to an outside entity, there is no guarantee that removing the package will remove all malicious software resulting from installing it.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-5451?

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-2026-5451 is a malicious package: privacy-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-2026-5451/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5451/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-5451

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5451/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.