Code execution via malicious postinstall payload
Published Aug 10, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026
Embedded malicious code in react-tracked commits allows remote attackers to execute code on developer machines during npm install. Affected checkouts add src/install.js to postinstall; it disables TLS verification, downloads attacker-hosted JavaScript, and evaluates it with require access. Execution requires npm install from an affected commit on a non-CI developer machine and runs with that user's Node process permissions.
Summary
What happened
Embedded malicious code in react-tracked commits allows remote attackers to execute code on developer machines during npm install. Affected checkouts add src/install.js to postinstall; it disables TLS verification, downloads attacker-hosted JavaScript, and evaluates it with require access. Execution requires npm install from an affected commit on a non-CI developer machine and runs with that user's Node process permissions.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-48160
- Published
- Aug 10, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 10, 2026
- Vendor
- Daishi Kato
- Product
- react-tracked
- Classifications
- CWE-506, T1195.001
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 10, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 10, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=>= 6978272a7d6ca02225cb747ea69f427512e33699, <= 949f1a3d6bb1ff7d1a0dec892afd773e742627e8
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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