# MAL-2026-6540: Malicious code in db-rake (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `db-rake` (npm)
- **Published:** 26 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-prxc-r4q3-q88m

## What is MAL-2026-6540?

MAL-2026-6540 is a malicious package in db-rake, published on 26 Jun 2026. 

### Official description

When a consumer imports db-rake and constructs any Model, the package's `resetor()` method silently runs `npm install db-dx-connector` (unpinned, `no-save: true`, `loglevel: silent`, `no-warnings: true`) via oubliette's `syncApi`, then `require`s the freshly-fetched module and invokes `new DxDatabaseConnector({}).queryDBConnect()`. The install primitive is concealed by aliasing the import as `npm` (`const { syncApi: npm } = require("oubliette")`) so call sites read as innocuous `npm().install(...)`, and all output is suppressed. The fetched package is attacker-mutable (latest tag), unrelated to the README's stated purpose (an in-memory mobx-backed database), and undocumented. A commented-out adjacent block in dist/index.js shows the same technique templated against a different target package (`clsx-js` via `execSync('npm uninstall clsx-js && npm install clsx-js', { stdio: 'ignore', windowsHide: true })`), corroborating that the live db-dx-connector path is a deliberately engineered dropper rather than benign auto-recovery. Any code published to db-dx-connector at any future time will be executed in the consumer's process.

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-2026-6540?

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-2026-6540 is a malicious package: db-rake (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-2026-6540/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6540/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-6540

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6540/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.