MAL-2026-17710

Malicious code in pxnpm (npm)

Published Oct 9, 2026 · corrected/updated Oct 15, 2026 · evidence confidence medium

pxnpm 7.0.0-beta.6, 7.0.0-beta.8 and 7.0.0 (published 2026-10-06 by user nfjbill) are a 10-file, 16 KB launcher for a native executable that is not contained in the package. The postinstall script (bin/install.cjs) calls ensureNative() in dist/download.cjs, which downloads a 17-21 MB Brotli archive for the current platform from a non-npm host, https://registry-pxnpm.rdc.nfjbill.ren:20021/__static/srv/downloads/pxnpm/ / - .br, decompresses it into a 52-72 MB executable under ~/.cache/pxnpm/native/ / /, sets mode 0755, and the launcher (dist/launcher.cjs line 54) later runs it with child_process.spawn. The manifest (dist/native-manifest.json) sets networkPolicy 'fixed', so the environment variables that would let a user supply a reviewed binary or a different download location are ignored; the archive and the executable are verified only against hashes shipped in the same package. When run, dist/launcher.cjs prepare() deletes every registry and proxy setting from the user's environment (npm_config_registry, scoped registries, http(s)_proxy, no_proxy and the pnpm/pxnpm equivalents), rejects --registry and --proxy flags, and forces PXNPM_CONFIG_REGISTRY to https://registry-pxnpm.rdc.nfjbill.ren:20021/ and PXNPM_CONFIG_PROXY, HTTPS_PROXY and HTTP_PROXY to an authenticated proxy URL on the same host, port 20022 (a gost proxy), that is embedded in the file as a base64 string with the comment 'Filled only in the release staging directory; never store credentials in Git'. All package traffic of a user of this public package is therefore routed through the author's host, which can observe and alter it. Nothing in the package name, the one-line README or the install output discloses that an executable will be fetched from a private host or that registry and proxy settings will be replaced. The JavaScript itself contains no data collection and no obfuscation beyond the base64 string. At the time of this report the download URL returns a 430-byte npm registry JSON document inste

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

MAL-2026-17710 is a unknown public vulnerability record for this product. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether this product is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: pxnpm (7.0.0-beta.6, 7.0.0-beta.8, 7.0.0). Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: no CVSS/EPSS yet. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Sources contributing to this record: osv. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Exploitation and remediation

Exploitation evidence
Not listed as known exploited in CISA KEV. Not in the CISA KEV catalog.
Patch and remediation
No required-action text is stored yet. Use the vendor or CERT links in Sources for patch availability.
Safe detection guidance
Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

pxnpm · npmjs.com

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

Oct 9, 2026 · OSV.dev
Detected
pxnpm 7.0.0-beta.6, 7.0.0-beta.8 and 7.0.0 (published 2026-10-06 by user nfjbill) are a 10-file, 16 KB launcher for a native executable that is not contained in the package. The postinstall script (bin/install.cjs) calls ensureNative() in dist/download.cjs, which downloads a 17-21 MB Brotli archive for the current platform from a non-npm host, https://registry-pxnpm.rdc.nfjbill.ren:20021/__static/
Oct 15, 2026 · OSV.dev
Updated
pxnpm 7.0.0-beta.6, 7.0.0-beta.8 and 7.0.0 (published 2026-10-06 by user nfjbill) are a 10-file, 16 KB launcher for a native executable that is not contained in the package. The postinstall script (bin/install.cjs) calls ensureNative() in dist/download.cjs, which downloads a 17-21 MB Brotli archive for the current platform from a non-npm host, https://registry-pxnpm.rdc.nfjbill.ren:20021/__static/