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Malicious package

imgbundlenpm

Advisory published Updated

imgbundle is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-17330) that runs destructive / sabotage code (malicious versions 1.0.0, 1.0.1, 1.0.2). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.

Malicious code in imgbundle (npm)

MAL-2026-17330
Immediate action
Remove the package, then rotate any secrets the build/runtime could reach.
npm uninstall imgbundle

What this malware does

The package advertises itself as an image bundler, but index.js performs no image bundling. On require, a top-level IIFE reads an AES-256-CBC-encrypted file at cdn-img-fetch/.cache/banner.jpg inside the sibling dependency cdn-img-fetch, decrypts it with a hardcoded key derived from sha256('nif-runtime-2027'), writes the plaintext to cdn-img-fetch/.runtime/rt.jpg, deletes the source file, and registers an fs.watch on the source directory so the decrypt-and-stage step still fires if the encrypted blob is delivered later. The package also calls cif.ensureCached() on the cdn-img-fetch dependency in an error-recovery path, wiring the two packages together as a coordinated staged dropper: cdn-img-fetch supplies the encrypted bytes and imgbundle acts as the decoder that materializes attacker-controlled content onto the installer's filesystem at import time. The README description of image bundling does not correspond to any code path in the module, and hardcoded-AES-key decryption of an opaque blob from another package is not a legitimate implementation of that stated purpose.

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.

Malicious versions

3 flagged
1.0.01.0.11.0.2

Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)

1577a61d49bcd6bd941dc6901b176730252973766b198f2065baea643ca81a16
e14218599b46d143fa8e150156864d14d58c327bd8a8816221ac4e8c5cc99350
6175161f6fa075711e55b1f0db7d346357ce5593b1e3b48fc30cd85aaad81576

Detection & response playbook

Destructive / sabotage
  1. Find it

    Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for imgbundle (3 malicious versions).

  2. If you installed it — respond

    imgbundle carries a destructive/sabotage payload. Remove it immediately, restore any affected data from clean backups, and verify integrity of build outputs that may have been tampered with.

  3. Did it already run?

    If imgbundle was installed, its post-install payload may already have run. Removing the package does not undo that — check outbound connections and credential use from the install window onward.

Frequently asked questions

No. imgbundle on npm has been identified as a malicious package (versions 1.0.0, 1.0.1, 1.0.2 flagged). It should be removed immediately — do not install or keep it in your dependency tree.

Campaign

IN-MAL-2026-020810IN-MAL-2026-020809GHSA-hj6h-6xgx-mpjv

References

Credits

  • Amazon Inspector · finder

Detect & block this

O3 blocks imgbundle-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the malicious outbound activity and severs the channel.

Explore

imgbundle (npm) malicious package — MAL-2026-17330 | O3 Security