Malicious Code Injection in iqbal-poke19: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-156823: Malicious code in iqbal-poke19 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
iqbal-poke19 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 malicious nature of iqbal-poke19 lies in its ability to modify package metadata and proliferate harmful variants across the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in iqbal-poke19 originates from its design to execute autopublish scripts that manipulate the package.json file. This includes removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names, which can lead to the pollution of the npm registry. The ramifications of this vulnerability are significant, as it can compromise the integrity of the npm ecosystem, confuse developers, and potentially introduce security risks into applications that depend on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall iqbal-poke19If 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-poke19 and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your npm packages using tools like npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The iqbal-poke19 package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code and the potential for widespread impact. It is essential for developers to remain vigilant, regularly audit their dependencies, and utilize tools like Vulert to safeguard their applications against such vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
iqbal-poke19 is an npm package linked to a malicious campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command npm uninstall iqbal-poke19 and audit your project for any other potentially harmful packages.
Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit, and consider using Vulert to monitor your packages for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Vulert is a tool that monitors open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file. You can check for vulnerabilities in your application without any installation by using the Vulert playground.
