Malicious Code Exfiltration in ap3-foundations-ui Package
Summary
MAL-2026-17806: Malicious code in ap3-foundations-ui (npm). Affects ap3-foundations-ui versions 99.0.1. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The ap3-foundations-ui package is an npm library designed for building user interfaces. It is commonly used in web development projects to streamline UI component creation. However, this package has been identified with a significant vulnerability that allows malicious code to execute during installation, compromising user data and system integrity.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from a preinstall hook in the package that executes index.js. This script collects sensitive information about the host environment, including the operating system, user account, home directory, current working directory, platform, architecture, and CI status. This data is then sent as JSON to a hardcoded external collector, enabling potential follow-on attacks against the organization. The malicious behavior is triggered automatically upon running 'npm install', without user consent, making it particularly dangerous.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ap3-foundations-uiIf 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 prevent the execution of the preinstall hook by using the following command to install the package without running scripts: npm install ap3-foundations-ui --ignore-scripts However, this may limit the functionality of the package, so it is advisable to seek a complete fix.
Conclusion
The ap3-foundations-ui package has a critical vulnerability that allows malicious code to exfiltrate sensitive information during installation. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by removing the affected package and monitoring their applications for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
The vulnerability involves malicious code that collects sensitive information from the host system and sends it to an external server.
You can use Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. By checking your package-lock.json file, Vulert can identify if your application is affected.
If you have installed the vulnerable version, you should uninstall it immediately and replace it with a safe alternative or an updated version.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
The consequences include unauthorized access to sensitive information, potential follow-on attacks, and compromise of the integrity of the host system.
