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Malicious package

technical-challengenpm

technical-challenge is a confirmed malicious npm package (MAL-2026-12809) that steals credentials and exfiltrates sensitive data (malicious version 1.0.1). Do not install it — remove it immediately and rotate any exposed credentials.

Malicious code in technical-challenge (npm)

MAL-2026-12809
Immediate action
Remove the package, then rotate any secrets the build/runtime could reach.
npm uninstall technical-challenge

What this malware does

package.json declares preinstall: node index.js, causing index.js to run automatically on npm install. The script collects installer-side data — hostname, username, home directory, DNS server list, current working directory, package.json contents, and the contents of /etc/passwd and /etc/hosts — and HTTPS-POSTs it to a hardcoded Burp Collaborator subdomain at 5z5h9l8e7cktx1ihl6usn4zgb7h15rtg.oastify.com. The exfiltration fires unconditionally on install with no user interaction.

Malicious versions

1 flagged
1.0.1

Indicators of compromise (SHA-256)

6921f72a1b4fbaaba87fcbe3cb30137815e7e2bb932ffa794acd0010b8954c5f

Detection & response playbook

Credential / info stealer
  1. Find it

    Scan your lockfiles (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, yarn.lock, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, etc.) and build artifacts for technical-challenge (version 1.0.1). O3 Security's supply-chain scanner checks every dependency against known-malicious package intelligence at install time and in CI, flagging technical-challenge across your stack and pipelines.

  2. If you installed it — respond

    technical-challenge 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.

  3. Did it already run?

    If technical-challenge was ever installed, its post-install/runtime payload may have already executed. O3's L7 egress monitoring and runtime eBPF sensors detect the credential exfiltration or command-and-control callback after install and block the malicious outbound channel, so you catch and contain the actual compromise — not just the presence of the package.

  4. How O3 protects you

    O3 blocks technical-challenge before install through its supply-chain scanner, and if it has already run, detects and severs the exfiltration or C2 callback at runtime through L7 egress monitoring and eBPF.

Frequently asked questions

No. technical-challenge on npm has been identified as a malicious package (version 1.0.1 flagged). It should be removed immediately — do not install or keep it in your dependency tree.

Campaign

IN-MAL-2026-014935

References

Credits

  • Amazon Inspector · finder

Detect & block this

O3 blocks technical-challenge-class packages before install and in CI — and if it already ran, its runtime egress monitoring catches the credential exfiltration and severs the channel.

Explore

technical-challenge (npm) malicious package — MAL-2026-12809 | O3 Security