MAL-2026-5857 Malicious code in event-metrics-q3x7 (npm)

On install, package.json runs a postinstall hook (node run.js) that triggers beacon scripts (beacon20.js, beacon_linux.js) shipped in the tarball. The beacons load child_process, os, https, and http, gather host fingerprints (os.hostname(), os.platform(), process.platform, process.env) and command output via exec(...), and transmit the data outbound — beacon_linux.js issues an http.request(...) POST containing host details, while beacon20.js performs https.request(...) calls including requests against the Azure management API endpoint. There is no advertised purpose that justifies a host-info beacon firing automatically at install time, and the data collected (env vars, hostname, platform, command output) is classic installer-side reconnaissance and credential-surface telemetry. Installing this package executes the beacon on npm install and leaks installer-machine information to the embedded destinations.

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.