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Malicious package

npm-sandbox-research-9c4enpm

Advisory published Updated

npm-sandbox-research-9c4e is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-5759) that opens a backdoor for remote access (malicious version 1.0.0). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.

Malicious code in npm-sandbox-research-9c4e (npm)

MAL-2026-5759
Immediate action
Remove the package, then rotate any secrets the build/runtime could reach.
npm uninstall npm-sandbox-research-9c4e

What this malware does

On install, package.json runs node run.js via a postinstall lifecycle hook. The package ships beacon scripts (beacon9.js, beacon_linux.js) that import child_process, os, and http, collect host identity (os.hostname(), os.platform()) and issue outbound HTTP POST/GET requests. This is the canonical install-time host beacon / command-execution shape: arbitrary code runs on the installer's machine via npm install, host fingerprints are emitted over the network, and child_process is available to execute received instructions. The package name (npm-sandbox-research-*) and shipped contents are inconsistent with any legitimate library 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

1 flagged
1.0.0

Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)

24c86d7d2179375f642423fc8c38f58f5740b543bacab149ba8d4cbdcd7dc4cf
ec025527f85ede469daba4142e2a4a93d2a2af95bc5804a7aceaf2fd270ade88
81b3f813b66758d1e9a2183a6e990aa04eea83d2ce40095b36c73b2e28e077c2

Detection & response playbook

Backdoor / remote access
  1. Find it

    Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for npm-sandbox-research-9c4e (version 1.0.0).

  2. If you installed it — respond

    npm-sandbox-research-9c4e establishes remote access, so treat any host that installed it as fully compromised. Isolate the machine, remove the package, rotate all credentials it could reach, and rebuild from a trusted image rather than cleaning in place — a backdoor may have planted additional persistence.

  3. Did it already run?

    If npm-sandbox-research-9c4e 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. npm-sandbox-research-9c4e on npm has been identified as a malicious package (version 1.0.0 flagged). It should be removed immediately — do not install or keep it in your dependency tree.

Campaign

IN-MAL-2026-006458IN-MAL-2026-006461GHSA-rfp8-4gmx-2fhj

References

Credits

  • Amazon Inspector · finder

Detect & block this

O3 blocks npm-sandbox-research-9c4e-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the C2 callback and severs the channel.

Explore

npm-sandbox-research-9c4e (npm) malicious package — MAL-2026-5759 | O3 Security