Malicious Code Injection in iqbal-poke45: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-156852: Malicious code in iqbal-poke45 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
iqbal-poke45 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-poke45 lies in its ability to modify package metadata and continuously republish variants, thereby polluting the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in iqbal-poke45 originates from its design to execute autopublish scripts that alter the package.json file. This includes removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry. The ramifications of this vulnerability include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly integrate these malicious packages into their projects, as well as a degradation of the overall trustworthiness of the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall iqbal-poke45If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can avoid using iqbal-poke45 and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz campaign. Regularly audit your npm packages using tools like npm audit to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The iqbal-poke45 package poses a significant threat to npm users due to its malicious code injection capabilities. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of your applications.
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FAQ
iqbal-poke45 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 project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall iqbal-poke45 immediately using the command 'npm uninstall iqbal-poke45' and check for any other affected packages.
You can use tools like npm audit to regularly check for vulnerabilities in your npm packages. Additionally, Vulert can monitor your package-lock.json for real-time alerts on open-source vulnerabilities.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
