Critical Malicious Code Vulnerability in chai-async-promised Package
Summary
MAL-2026-719: Malicious code in chai-async-promised (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The chai-async-promised package is an npm library designed to facilitate asynchronous testing in JavaScript applications. It extends the capabilities of the Chai assertion library, allowing developers to write cleaner and more readable tests for asynchronous code. However, this package has been found to contain malicious code that compromises the security of systems using it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the presence of embedded malicious code within the chai-async-promised package. This code can lead to full compromise of any system where the package is installed, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information such as secrets and keys. The malicious nature of the code has been confirmed by multiple sources, including Amazon Inspector and GHSA malware reports, indicating that systems running this package should be considered at high risk.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall chai-async-promisedIf 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 entirely. Ensure that you rotate any secrets or keys that may have been compromised.
Conclusion
The discovery of malicious code within the chai-async-promised package poses a significant risk to any system utilizing it. Immediate action is required to remove the package and secure any sensitive information that may have been compromised. Regular monitoring with tools like Vulert can help prevent future vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for chai-async-promised →
FAQ
Chai-async-promised is an npm package that enhances the Chai assertion library for testing asynchronous code in JavaScript applications.
If you have the chai-async-promised package installed, your system is likely affected. You can use Vulert to monitor and alert for vulnerabilities in your software.
Immediately rotate all secrets and keys stored on the affected system from a secure, unaffected machine.
Currently, there is no patched version available for the chai-async-promised package. The best course of action is to uninstall the package.
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