Malicious Code Injection in iqbal-poke24: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-156829: Malicious code in iqbal-poke24 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
iqbal-poke24 is an npm package that is part of a larger campaign aimed at exploiting the npm registry. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. Its functionality is compromised by malicious scripts that alter package metadata and republish variants, leading to potential abuse within the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in iqbal-poke24 stems from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which floods the npm registry with malicious packages. The malicious code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, changes version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches and loss of trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall iqbal-poke24If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, avoid using the iqbal-poke24 package and monitor your dependencies for any malicious activity. You can also use tools like Vulert to check your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities without requiring access to the code or installation.
Conclusion
The iqbal-poke24 package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the registry with compromised variants. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant, remove affected packages, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for iqbal-poke24 →
FAQ
iqbal-poke24 is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating developer reputation scores by flooding the npm registry with compromised packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your project, potentially compromising security and functionality.
You should uninstall the package immediately using npm uninstall iqbal-poke24 and check for any other affected packages.
You can use Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without needing to access the code or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
