OpenSSF/OSV advisory MAL-2026-4650 confirms this npm version as malicious. 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...
Source
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV
Summary
Malicious code in pubnub-moderation-tool (npm)
Details
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.
Decision reason
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV confirms pubnub-moderation-tool@1.0.3 as malicious (MAL-2026-4650): Malicious code in pubnub-moderation-tool (npm)