# MAL-2026-6497: Malicious code in chai-as-synced (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `chai-as-synced` (npm)
- **Published:** 26 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3m37-26mh-fj77

## What is MAL-2026-6497?

MAL-2026-6497 is a malicious package in chai-as-synced, published on 26 Jun 2026. 

### Official description

chai-as-synced@7.0.9 impersonates the pino logger: it ships pino's README, LICENSE, docs/, index.d.ts and lib/ file layout (proto.js, levels.js, redaction.js, transport.js, worker.js, tools.js, multistream.js) with pino's keywords (`fast`,`logger`,`stream`,`json`), while package.json declares an unrelated name and author (Robert King <hello@jsonspack.com>, bugs URL https://jsonspack.com/issues) and a boilerplate description unrelated to logging. index.js unconditionally executes `require('./lib/config')` at module top level. lib/config.js is not pino's config module; it is a ~4MB single-line obfuscator.io bundle (rotated string array of ~23,868 entries, hex-escaped identifiers, control-flow flattening, nested decoder functions) that auto-runs the moment any consumer imports the package. The package also declares `axios ^1.10.0` as a runtime dependency although the visible wrapper (a no-op express middleware) has no HTTP use, positioning the hidden payload to perform network I/O at import. The combination of deceptive identity, hidden obfuscated payload, import-time auto-execution, and a bundled HTTP client is a covert-code-execution shape inconsistent with any legitimate logging library.

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-2026-6497?

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-2026-6497 is a malicious package: chai-as-synced (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-2026-6497/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6497/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-6497

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6497/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.