Critical Malicious Code Vulnerability in asciitranslator Package
Summary
MAL-2025-191065: Malicious code in asciitranslator (npm). Affects asciitranslator versions 1.0.3. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The asciitranslator package is a Node.js library designed to facilitate the translation of ASCII text into various formats. It is commonly used in applications that require text manipulation and formatting. However, this package has been found to contain malicious code, posing significant security risks to any system where it is installed.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the presence of embedded malicious code within the asciitranslator package. This code can compromise the entire system, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information such as secrets and keys. The implications of this vulnerability are severe, as it can lead to complete control of the affected computer by external entities. Users are advised to treat any system running this package as fully compromised.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall asciitranslatorIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
There are no effective workarounds for this vulnerability other than removing the package and securing your system. It is essential to monitor your system for any signs of compromise after the removal.
Conclusion
The asciitranslator package contains a critical vulnerability due to embedded malicious code, which can compromise the security of any system where it is installed. Immediate removal of the package and rotation of sensitive information is essential to mitigate risks. Users should also consider using tools like Vulert for ongoing vulnerability monitoring.
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FAQ
The asciitranslator package is a Node.js library used for translating ASCII text into various formats, commonly utilized in text manipulation applications.
The malicious code can grant unauthorized access to your system, potentially allowing attackers to steal sensitive information and take control of your computer.
If you have the asciitranslator package installed, you should uninstall it immediately and rotate any sensitive information stored on the affected system.
No patch is available for the asciitranslator package. The only solution is to remove the package entirely.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner without any signup.
References
Habilume
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