Malicious Code Injection in iqbal-poke15: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-156819: Malicious code in iqbal-poke15 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
iqbal-poke15 is an npm package that appears to be part of a broader malicious campaign targeting the npm ecosystem. The package is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in iqbal-poke15 stems from its involvement in a token reward campaign that floods the npm registry with malicious packages. The package contains scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to the pollution of the npm registry. This can result in developers inadvertently using compromised packages, which may contain harmful code.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall iqbal-poke15If 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 avoid using the iqbal-poke15 package and any packages that depend on it. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The iqbal-poke15 package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior of generating and publishing compromised packages. It is crucial for developers to be aware of this vulnerability and take immediate action to remove the affected package and monitor their projects for potential threats.
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FAQ
iqbal-poke15 is an npm package involved in a malicious campaign that generates and publishes derivative packages to inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should remove the iqbal-poke15 package from your project immediately and check for any dependencies that may also be affected.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
