Malicious Code Injection in iqbal-poke14: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-156818: Malicious code in iqbal-poke14 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
iqbal-poke14 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm registry. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. The functionality of iqbal-poke14 is compromised due to its malicious intent, which includes the manipulation of package metadata and the proliferation of harmful variants.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in iqbal-poke14 originates from its design to include autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file. These scripts remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of malicious variants. The ramifications of this vulnerability include the pollution of the npm registry, potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these packages, and a significant impact on the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall iqbal-poke14If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using iqbal-poke14 and any packages that may have been derived from it. Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The iqbal-poke14 package poses a significant threat to npm users due to its malicious code and the potential for widespread impact on the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to take immediate action by removing this package and monitoring your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the security of your projects.
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FAQ
iqbal-poke14 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the publication of harmful packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall iqbal-poke14 immediately using the command npm uninstall iqbal-poke14 and review your other dependencies for any related vulnerabilities.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities. You can check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
There is no patch available for iqbal-poke14 as it is a malicious package. The best course of action is to remove it from your project.
