OpenSSF/OSV advisory MAL-2026-6485 confirms this npm version as malicious. starship-timeline@1.0.1 ships no real functionality. Its package.json declares a preinstall hook (`"preinstall": "node index.js"`) that runs automatically on `npm install`. index.js collects hostname, username, home directory, DNS servers, package metadata, and the contents of `/etc/passwd` and `/etc/hosts`, then POSTs the bundle over HTTPS to a hardcoded Burp Collaborator (`*.oastify.com`) subdomain...
Source
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV
Summary
Malicious code in starship-timeline (npm)
Details
starship-timeline@1.0.1 ships no real functionality. Its package.json declares a preinstall hook (`"preinstall": "node index.js"`) that runs automatically on `npm install`. index.js collects hostname, username, home directory, DNS servers, package metadata, and the contents of `/etc/passwd` and `/etc/hosts`, then POSTs the bundle over HTTPS to a hardcoded Burp Collaborator (`*.oastify.com`) subdomain (`5tziqozihbss8jg955ez91bycpij69uy.oastify.com`). The package has empty author and description fields, a single published version, and no other code paths — the exfiltration beacon is its only purpose, matching the standard dependency-confusion / OOB-beacon pattern. Whether deployed as research or as a live attack, installing the package leaks identifying host data and sensitive system files to an attacker-controlled out-of-band endpoint.
Decision reason
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV confirms starship-timeline@1.0.1 as malicious (MAL-2026-6485): Malicious code in starship-timeline (npm)