MAL-2026-10128: Malicious code in ohcm-culture-formatting (npm)
The npm package ohcm-culture-formatting version 5.0.0 contains malicious code that executes automatically during installation. It runs a preinstall script that collects sensitive system files and user information, encodes this data, and exfiltrates it to a remote server. The package name and description mimic an internal namespace, indicating a dependency confusion attack targeting internal environments.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The ohcm-culture-formatting npm package version 5.0.0 includes a preinstall hook that executes a Node.js script using child_process.exec. This script reads sensitive files (/etc/passwd, /etc/hosts, /etc/shadow) and the output of the 'id' command, concatenates and base64-encodes them, then sends the data via a curl POST request to a remote URL controlled by the attacker. The URL path includes the installer's username and hostname, and the data is embedded in the User-Agent header. The package name and description suggest it is designed to impersonate an internal ADP/Lifion namespace, consistent with a dependency confusion attack vector.
Potential Impact
Sensitive system information including user and host details, and potentially password hashes from /etc/shadow, can be exfiltrated to an attacker-controlled server during package installation. This compromises confidentiality and could facilitate further attacks on the affected system or network.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or remediation is currently available. Users should avoid installing version 5.0.0 of ohcm-culture-formatting. Verify package authenticity before installation, especially for packages mimicking internal namespaces. Monitor for suspicious network activity related to npm installs. Check vendor advisories for updates or fixes.
MAL-2026-10128: Malicious code in ohcm-culture-formatting (npm)
Description
The npm package ohcm-culture-formatting version 5.0.0 contains malicious code that executes automatically during installation. It runs a preinstall script that collects sensitive system files and user information, encodes this data, and exfiltrates it to a remote server. The package name and description mimic an internal namespace, indicating a dependency confusion attack targeting internal environments.
Affected software
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The ohcm-culture-formatting npm package version 5.0.0 includes a preinstall hook that executes a Node.js script using child_process.exec. This script reads sensitive files (/etc/passwd, /etc/hosts, /etc/shadow) and the output of the 'id' command, concatenates and base64-encodes them, then sends the data via a curl POST request to a remote URL controlled by the attacker. The URL path includes the installer's username and hostname, and the data is embedded in the User-Agent header. The package name and description suggest it is designed to impersonate an internal ADP/Lifion namespace, consistent with a dependency confusion attack vector.
Potential Impact
Sensitive system information including user and host details, and potentially password hashes from /etc/shadow, can be exfiltrated to an attacker-controlled server during package installation. This compromises confidentiality and could facilitate further attacks on the affected system or network.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or remediation is currently available. Users should avoid installing version 5.0.0 of ohcm-culture-formatting. Verify package authenticity before installation, especially for packages mimicking internal namespaces. Monitor for suspicious network activity related to npm installs. Check vendor advisories for updates or fixes.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- MAL-2026-10128
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.7.4
- Aliases
- []
- Ecosystems
- ["npm"]
- Database Specific Severity
- null
- Cvss Version
- null
Threat ID: 6a520eef68715ace4391da8c
Added to database: 07/11/2026, 09:37:51 UTC
Last enriched: 07/11/2026, 10:11:10 UTC
Last updated: 07/12/2026, 04:08:10 UTC
Views: 5
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