# MAL-2026-5744: Malicious code in loadninja-shared (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `loadninja-shared` (npm)
- **Published:** 13 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-q764-9h8c-8jfr

## What is MAL-2026-5744?

MAL-2026-5744 is a malicious package in loadninja-shared, published on 13 Jun 2026. 

### Official description

loadninja-shared@9.9.99 is a dependency-confusion package targeting an internal/private package namespace. package.json declares `"postinstall": "node beacon.js"`, which fires automatically on `npm install`. beacon.js reads `os.hostname()` and transmits it — together with a nonce and the package name — to the attacker-controlled out-of-band domain `tspeuj1fodn3cj8v30uck2fs4jaby1mq.oastify.com` (Burp Collaborator infrastructure) over both a DNS lookup (`dns.lookup(NONCE + '.' + host63 + '.' + HOST,...)`) and an HTTPS POST. The version `9.9.99` is the canonical high-version trick used to win npm resolution against a legitimate internal package of the same name, capturing misrouted internal builds. Although a code comment labels the file a "benign PoC," the behavior is identical to a live dependency-confusion exploitation beacon: any installer that resolves this package leaks its host identifier to a third-party callback domain without consent.

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 'loadninja-shared' @ 9.9.99 (npm) as malicious.

It is considered malicious because:

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

## What should I do about MAL-2026-5744?

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-2026-5744 is a malicious package: loadninja-shared (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-2026-5744/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5744/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-5744

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-5744/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.