Malicious Code Injection in iqbal-poke23: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-156828: Malicious code in iqbal-poke23 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
iqbal-poke23 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm ecosystem. 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 this package poses significant risks to developers and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in iqbal-poke23 arises from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior not only compromises the security of the affected packages but also undermines the trustworthiness of the npm ecosystem as a whole.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall iqbal-poke23If 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 the iqbal-poke23 package until a fix is confirmed. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file for any unexpected changes or additions that may indicate the presence of malicious packages.
Conclusion
The iqbal-poke23 package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior. Developers are urged to take immediate action by updating or removing the package from their projects. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring and managing vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
iqbal-poke23 is an npm package that has been linked to a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the automatic publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can compromise the integrity of your project by introducing malicious code, which may lead to security breaches and loss of trust in the npm ecosystem.
If you have installed iqbal-poke23, you should immediately update the package to the latest version or remove it from your project to prevent potential security risks.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
To prevent similar vulnerabilities, regularly audit your dependencies, use trusted sources for packages, and keep your packages updated to the latest secure versions.
