MAL-2026-5992 Malicious code in runtime-metrics-w7k2 (npm)
- Package
- runtime-metrics-w7k2
- Registry
- npm
What is MAL-2026-5992?
MAL-2026-5992 is a malicious package in runtime-metrics-w7k2, published on 17 Jun 2026.
Official description
Package declares a postinstall hook ("postinstall": "node run.js") that fires automatically on npm install. The tarball ships beacon scripts (beacon18.js, beacon_linux.js) that import child_process, os, and http, read host identifiers via os.hostname() / os.platform(), and issue outbound HTTP GET/POST requests carrying that data. The combination — automatic install-time execution, host enumeration, child_process reachability, and unsolicited outbound HTTP from an unknown low-reputation package named with a random suffix — matches a host-beacon / exfiltration shape with no legitimate library purpose. Installing this package on a developer or CI machine causes immediate disclosure of host metadata to an external endpoint and provides the publisher a foothold for follow-on commands.
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-2026-5992?
Remove the package from your dependencies and lockfiles, then rotate any secrets on machines where it was installed.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-65h4-xcqj-p428.