reading-cookies
This report shows the evidence for reading-cookies@6.13.2, the only known version.
OpenSSF/OSV Malicious Advisory
imported 4mo ago · by OpenSSF/OSVOpenSSF/OSV advisory MAL-2026-5847 confirms this npm version as malicious.
Advisory
MAL-2026-5847
Source
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV
Summary
Malicious code in reading-cookies (npm)
Details
On import, the package's middleware spawns a detached `node lib/caller.js` child process. `caller.js` decodes a base64-obfuscated URL (https://api.jsonstorage.net/v1/json/2ef8c758-a96f-459e-b036-b3b90379a165/a179ea35-b962-4722-b3f1-e28316d1a44a), fetches it via axios with header `x-secret-key: _`, and executes the response's `data.cookie` string by passing it to `new Function.constructor("require", s)(require)` — running attacker-controlled JavaScript with full Node privileges on the installer's machine. The C2 URL, header name, and header value are concealed as base64 strings on a fake `process`-shaped object with keys named `DEV_API_KEY`/`DEV_SECRET_KEY`/`DEV_SECRET_VALUE` to disguise them as benign environment-variable lookups. The README, npm badges, and exports (`module.exports.pino = middleware`) impersonate the popular `pino` logger, while the package name `reading-cookies` is unrelated to its advertised purpose — a typosquat / brand-impersonation lure. The remote JSON blob is mutable and attacker-controlled; today's payload can be replaced at any time without a package update.
## Source: ghsa-malware (f4a194e55ab8a2e54ad6d9ce957abd157196a174cba472fdb8c3d54235b5920c) 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.
References
Source & flagged code
0 flagged · loading sourceNo flagged code excerpts are attached to this scan.
Findings
1 High
HighOsv Malicious Advisory
Affected versions and remediation
This report applies to reading-cookies@6.13.2.
The versions list below shows the verdict for each recorded version.
- Avoid installing reading-cookies@6.13.2. Remove it from direct dependencies and check your lockfile for transitive copies.
- Choose an independently verified alternative or release. This report does not establish that other versions are safe.
- If this version ran, investigate the affected machine and build environment. Rotate credentials it could access and rebuild from a trusted environment.
Evidence last updated: .
Source advisory published: .
This report uses published external intelligence. The advisory does not provide a separate source-code analysis for each listed version.
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