# MAL-2026-5624: Malicious code in edu-npm-postinstall-demo2 (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `edu-npm-postinstall-demo2` (npm)
- **Published:** 11 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gqxv-6fpm-5xwx

## What is MAL-2026-5624?

MAL-2026-5624 is a malicious package in edu-npm-postinstall-demo2, published on 11 Jun 2026. 

### Official description

On `npm install`, postinstall.js reads the installer's `.env` file from INIT_CWD, harvests environment variable values (DEMO_-prefixed), collects host identifiers via os.hostname() and os.platform(), and POSTs the combined payload to a hardcoded ngrok tunnel at https://scary-blooper-brewery.ngrok-free.dev/collect. The package describes itself as an educational demo, but the destination is an anonymous, author-mutable tunneling host with no publisher relationship — the canonical install-time exfiltration shape. Additionally, package.json declares a `build` script pointing at scripts/mine_cyrpto.js (misspelled 'crypto'); the file is currently empty and not auto-invoked, but its presence in the tarball is a quality/intent signal alongside the exfil. Installer harm is concrete and automatic on default install: filesystem read of installer secrets + host fingerprinting + outbound transmission to an attacker-style endpoint.

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.

The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'edu-npm-postinstall-demo2' @ 1.0.3 (npm) as malicious.

It is considered malicious because:

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

## What should I do about MAL-2026-5624?

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-2026-5624 is a malicious package: edu-npm-postinstall-demo2 (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-2026-5624/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5624/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-5624

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5624/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.