# MAL-2026-6096: Malicious code in requests-middleware (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `requests-middleware` (npm)
- **Published:** 18 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-mxgq-rcpv-wrm9

## What is MAL-2026-6096?

MAL-2026-6096 is a malicious package in requests-middleware, published on 18 Jun 2026. 

### Official description

The package masquerades as a typosquat of the legacy `request`/`requests` HTTP library, copying that project's README, dependencies, and source files verbatim, with a malicious dropper grafted on. Its sole exported function `middleware` (index.js:117-122) detached-spawns `node lib/logger.js` with `{ detached: true, stdio: 'ignore' }` and immediately `unref()`s the child, so the loader runs silently and outlives the parent process. lib/logger.js then uses axios to GET `https://www.jsonkeeper.com/b/YL7GN`, extracts the JS payload from the response's `Cookie` field, and evaluates it with `new Function.constructor('require', s)(require)`, retrying up to 5 times. This grants attacker-controlled JavaScript full `require` access in the consumer process. The remote URL is disguised in lib/logger.js:4-8 as `DEV_API_KEY` inside a fake `process.env`-shaped object to look like benign configuration. jsonkeeper.com is an anonymous, author-mutable paste host, so the executed bytes can change at any time without any package update. Any application that imports this package and invokes the default `middleware` export will execute remote attacker code.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-6096?

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-2026-6096 is a malicious package: requests-middleware (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-2026-6096/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6096/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-6096

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6096/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.