MAL-2026-5757 Malicious code in npm-sandbox-ping-c8f2a (npm)

Package declares a postinstall hook ("postinstall": "node run.js" in package.json) that executes on every install. Bundled scripts beacon6.js and beacon_linux.js use require('child_process') to gather host identity (whoami, os.hostname(), os.platform()) and POST the collected data to a remote HTTP endpoint via http.request(...). The package name npm-sandbox-ping-c8f2a and the beacon-style file naming together with no legitimate library functionality indicate the install-time goal is host fingerprinting / callback to an attacker-controlled destination, not any documented purpose. Installing this package automatically transmits installer machine identity off-host.

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.