# MAL-2026-6297: Malicious code in tree-sitter-forth (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `tree-sitter-forth` (npm)
- **Published:** 23 Jun 2026

## What is MAL-2026-6297?

MAL-2026-6297 is a malicious package in tree-sitter-forth, published on 23 Jun 2026. 

### Official description

Package is a dependency-confusion lure: it claims version 9999.99.99 with description 'npm 404 error referenced in AlexanderBrevig/tree-sitter-forth', engineered to win resolution when an internal build references a non-existent public package of this name. index.js is a hollow re-export (`module.exports = require('tree-sitter-forth')`) while postinstall.js fires the actual payload. On `npm install`, postinstall.js collects host identity (os.hostname(), Node/OS versions, package name+version), probes 16 CI provider environment variables, harvests GitHub workflow/repo/owner env vars, and reads the configured npm registry URL, then POSTs the bundle as JSON to https://ddactic-lab.online/sc/beacon (postinstall.js:48). A DNS-exfil fallback encodes the package slug, CI label, and a hash into a subdomain of b.ddactic-lab.online (postinstall.js:62 `dns.lookup(...b.ddactic-lab.online)`) to bypass HTTP-blocking egress proxies. The leaked data — internal CI provider, private registry URL, GitHub repo/workflow names — is reconnaissance material for follow-on dependency-confusion attacks against the victim's internal infrastructure.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-6297?

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-2026-6297 is a malicious package: tree-sitter-forth (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-2026-6297/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6297/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-6297

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6297/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.