Critical Malicious Code Vulnerability in @galicia-toolkit/error-master Package
Summary
MAL-2026-17689: Malicious code in @galicia-toolkit/error-master (npm). Affects @galicia-toolkit/error-master versions 999.0.3. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The @galicia-toolkit/error-master package is a Node.js library commonly used for error handling in JavaScript applications. It is designed to streamline error management and improve debugging processes. However, this package has been found to contain a significant vulnerability that allows for the exfiltration of sensitive information from the user's environment during installation.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's postinstall script, which executes upon installation. This script hex-encodes sensitive information such as the installer's hostname, current working directory, platform/architecture, Node version, and user identifiers. It then sends this data via DNS queries to a hardcoded external server controlled by the package author. This behavior poses a severe risk as it compromises the confidentiality of user data and can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall @galicia-toolkit/error-masterIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can avoid using the @galicia-toolkit/error-master package altogether and look for alternative libraries that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using network monitoring tools to detect any unauthorized DNS queries during the installation of packages.
Conclusion
The @galicia-toolkit/error-master package contains a critical vulnerability that allows for the exfiltration of sensitive information. It is crucial for developers to uninstall this package immediately and monitor their systems for any potential breaches. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in maintaining the security of your applications.
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FAQ
The vulnerability involves malicious code that exfiltrates sensitive information from the user's environment through DNS queries during the package installation.
You can check if your application is affected by using Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to analyze your package-lock.json without requiring any signup.
If you have installed the package, you should immediately uninstall it and rotate any sensitive credentials or keys that may have been exposed.
Yes, consider using other error handling libraries that do not exhibit malicious behavior, such as 'express-error-handler' or 'winston'.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring vulnerabilities, and avoid installing packages from untrusted sources.
