Malicious Code Injection in iqbal-poke27: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-156832: Malicious code in iqbal-poke27 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
iqbal-poke27 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 scheme, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to modify critical files and republish variants, thus polluting the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in iqbal-poke27 originates from its design to include autopublish scripts that automatically generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. The continuous republishing of these variants can lead to a significant increase in malicious packages, making it difficult for developers to identify legitimate packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall iqbal-poke27If 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-poke27 package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may have inadvertently included it. Regularly audit your package-lock.json file to identify and remove any malicious packages.
Conclusion
The iqbal-poke27 package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code that modifies package files and repopulates the registry with harmful variants. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for any related vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
iqbal-poke27 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the modification of your package.json file, removal of private flags, and the introduction of numerous malicious packages into the npm registry, potentially compromising your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the iqbal-poke27 package immediately using the command npm uninstall iqbal-poke27 and check for any dependencies that may rely on it.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. You can check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities, and stay updated with the latest security patches for your packages.
