Malicious Code Injection in iqbal-poke16: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-156820: Malicious code in iqbal-poke16 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
iqbal-poke16 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 has led to the creation of numerous derivative packages aimed at inflating developer reputation scores. The package's functionality is compromised by the presence of malicious scripts that manipulate its metadata and behavior.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in iqbal-poke16 originates from its inclusion in a broader scheme to exploit the npm registry. The malicious payload embedded in this package modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of these variants. This not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly install these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall iqbal-poke16If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, avoid using the iqbal-poke16 package and any other packages that may be associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your project's dependencies to ensure that no malicious packages are included.
Conclusion
The iqbal-poke16 package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repopulates the registry with compromised versions. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for any potential vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
iqbal-poke16 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of compromised packages, which may introduce security risks and affect the integrity of your application.
You should uninstall the iqbal-poke16 package immediately using the command npm uninstall iqbal-poke16.
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 your application for vulnerabilities without any signup at the Vulert playground.
There are no patches available for iqbal-poke16, as it is recommended to remove the package entirely from your project.
