Malicious Code Vulnerability in chai-cli-async Package

chai-cli-async Updated 19 Mar 2026

Summary

18/03/2026
CRITICAL
No i
Critical
Not published

MAL-2026-1677: Malicious code in chai-cli-async (npm). Affects chai-cli-async versions 3.3.5. No fix is published. How to fix ↓

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Background

The chai-cli-async package is a Node.js utility that facilitates asynchronous testing with the Chai assertion library. It is designed to enhance the testing experience by allowing developers to write tests that can handle asynchronous operations seamlessly. However, this package has been found to contain malicious code that poses a significant security risk to users.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability in the chai-cli-async package stems from the presence of malicious code that can compromise the integrity of applications using it. This code may lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, or other harmful actions within the affected systems. The malicious nature of this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it can be exploited without the user's knowledge, potentially affecting a wide range of applications that rely on this package.

How To Fix

This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.

npm uninstall chai-cli-async

If 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 remove the chai-cli-async package from your project if it is not critical to your application's functionality. You can do this by executing the command: npm uninstall chai-cli-async. This will prevent any potential exploitation until a fix is implemented.

Conclusion

The discovery of malicious code in the chai-cli-async package highlights the importance of maintaining secure dependencies in software development. By promptly addressing this vulnerability through updates or workarounds, developers can protect their applications from potential threats.

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FAQ

Chai-cli-async is a Node.js utility that enhances asynchronous testing with the Chai assertion library.

The malicious code can lead to unauthorized access and data breaches, compromising the security of your application.

You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.

Yes, updating to the latest version of the chai-cli-async package will address the vulnerability.

As a temporary measure, consider uninstalling the package or reviewing your application's dependencies to mitigate risks.

How To Fix

This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.

npm uninstall chai-cli-async

If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.

Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →

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