MalwarePublished 11 Jun 2026Updated 8 Jul 2026

routing-controls (npm) · Malicious Code

Affects routing-controlsSource GCVE Database

Malicious package : remove routing-controls and rotate any secrets on hosts that installed it.

Data as of 9 Jul 2026, 09:53 UTC

Classification

Malicious package

Published to npm · OSV MAL-2026-5635

What to do

Remove routing-controls from every project, lockfile and image that pulls it in. Treat any host that installed it as compromised: rotate the credentials, tokens and keys it could read, from a clean machine.

Affected software

Product	Affected	Fixed in
npmrouting-controls	Affected =1.0.1	Fixed in–

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Description

The npm package 'routing-controls' version 1.0.1 is a malicious clone of the popular 'routing-controllers' package. It contains a code path that reloads a stub file named 'lib.min.js' on every POST request, which currently only logs a message but structurally allows future versions to execute arbitrary code on POST requests. There is no evidence of active exploitation or credential theft in the current version, but the package poses a latent risk if updated maliciously. Removal is recommended due to the potential for full system compromise.

Impact

If exploited in a future version, the package could execute arbitrary code on every POST request within applications using it, potentially leading to full system compromise. Currently, the version 1.0.1 does not perform harmful actions beyond logging, but the presence of a hot-swappable code path means the risk is latent and could be activated by a malicious update. Systems with this package installed should be considered compromised due to the possibility of future malicious payloads. Secrets and keys on affected systems should be rotated as a precaution.

Defensive guidance

The recommended mitigation is to immediately remove the 'routing-controls' package version 1.0.1 from all systems. Rotate all secrets and keys stored on affected computers from a separate, trusted environment. Monitor for any suspicious activity and avoid using this package in any environment.

Summary

The 'routing-controls' package (version 1.0.1) is a one-edit variant of the legitimate 'routing-controllers' npm package, designed to appear identical. It includes a suspicious mechanism in the 'executeAction' method that reloads a 'lib.min.js' file on every POST request, bypassing the require cache. Currently, this file only logs a timestamped message, but the structure enables a hot-swappable backdoor that could run arbitrary code in future versions. Although no active malicious behavior such as exfiltration or credential access is present now, the package is considered malicious due to its potential for future exploitation. The package should be treated as fully compromising any system where it is installed.

References

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What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 9 Jul 2026, 09:53 UTC

Technical details

References

Community reviews