pubnub-moderation-toolnpm
Advisory published Updated
pubnub-moderation-tool is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-4650) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious version 1.0.3). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.
Malicious code in pubnub-moderation-tool (npm)
What this malware does
package.json declares "preinstall": "node index.js", causing index.js to run automatically on npm install. The script collects os.hostname(), os.userInfo(), home directory, DNS server list, package metadata, and the contents of /etc/passwd and /etc/hosts, then HTTPS-POSTs the resulting JSON to vdcz3c5tmurvu7cqdfk9s524wv2nqee3.oastify.com — a Burp Collaborator subdomain used as an out-of-band exfiltration sink. The package contains no functionality matching its declared name; metadata fields (author, description) are empty and the package name impersonates PubNub branding, consistent with dependency-confusion / typosquat bait. Installing this package leaks installer host identity and local system files to an attacker on every install.
Malicious versions
Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)
Detection & response playbook
Credential / info stealerFind it
Search your lockfiles and build artifacts for pubnub-moderation-tool (version 1.0.3).
If you installed it — respond
pubnub-moderation-tool is built to steal secrets, so assume every credential the build or runtime could read is compromised. Remove it from your project and lockfile, then rotate ALL exposed secrets — npm/registry tokens, cloud keys, CI/CD secrets, SSH keys, and any .env values — from a known-clean machine. Audit logs for unauthorized use of those credentials.
Did it already run?
If pubnub-moderation-tool 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
Campaign
References
Credits
- Amazon Inspector · finder
Detect & block this
O3 blocks pubnub-moderation-tool-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the credential exfiltration and severs the channel.