# MAL-2026-6568: Malicious code in express-mocha-test (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `express-mocha-test` (npm)
- **Published:** 29 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7jq4-grp7-9wq3

## What is MAL-2026-6568?

MAL-2026-6568 is a malicious package in express-mocha-test, published on 29 Jun 2026. 

### Official description

express-mocha-test@0.0.1 declares a postinstall lifecycle hook that loads the package's main module, which calls fetch() against an anonymous ngrok-free.app tunnel (https://2939e69fc408.ngrok-free.app/stats) and passes the response body directly to eval(). This executes attacker-controlled JavaScript on any machine that runs `npm install` for this package, with no pinning, integrity check, or scoping. The destination is an ephemeral, mutable, attacker-operated tunnel — not a registry, not a publisher domain. Package metadata impersonates well-known maintainers of the express and mocha projects (author field set to 'TJ Holowaychuk'), and the stated description ('Integrate redis with cookies') does not match the shipped behavior, indicating deliberate impersonation rather than misconfiguration.

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.

The OpenSSF Package Analysis project identified 'express-mocha-test' @ 0.0.1 (npm) as malicious.

It is considered malicious because:

- The package communicates with a domain associated with malicious activity.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-6568?

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-2026-6568 is a malicious package: express-mocha-test (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-2026-6568/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6568/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-6568

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6568/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.