OpenSSF/OSV advisory MAL-2026-6709 confirms this npm version as malicious. Package name impersonates the popular vega-lite library but ships no vega functionality — only a preinstall exfiltration stub. package.json declares `preinstall: node index.js`. On `npm install`, index.js collects os.hostname(), platform, arch, os.userInfo() (username/uid/gid/shell), homedir, cwd, and the output of `whoami` and `id` executed via child_process, then POSTs the JSON payload to a hardcoded Burp...
Source
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV
Summary
Malicious code in vega-lite-next (npm)
Details
Package name impersonates the popular vega-lite library but ships no vega functionality — only a preinstall exfiltration stub. package.json declares `preinstall: node index.js`. On `npm install`, index.js collects os.hostname(), platform, arch, os.userInfo() (username/uid/gid/shell), homedir, cwd, and the output of `whoami` and `id` executed via child_process, then POSTs the JSON payload to a hardcoded Burp Collaborator subdomain at https://kbztayu6auucui8s9ucz2mujkaq1er2g.oastify.com/detox56. The combination of typosquat naming, absence of library functionality, automatic preinstall execution, shell reconnaissance, and an attacker-controlled exfil endpoint is an unambiguous supply-chain attack against developers who mistype or are tricked into installing the lookalike.
Decision reason
OpenSSF Malicious Packages via OSV confirms vega-lite-next@19.2.1 as malicious (MAL-2026-6709): Malicious code in vega-lite-next (npm)