Malicious Code Injection in masterkids Package: npm Vulnerability Overview
Summary
MAL-2025-95410: Malicious code in masterkids (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The masterkids package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily used for various development tasks. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with harmful packages. This package is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through automated scripts that publish derivative packages with altered attributes.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the masterkids package stems from its association with a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall masterkidsIf 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 the masterkids package until a secure version is released. Additionally, consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The masterkids package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code injection vulnerability. Developers should take immediate action to remove this package and monitor their projects for any potential threats. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for masterkids →
FAQ
The masterkids package is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your project, which may compromise security and functionality.
You should immediately remove the masterkids package from your project and update to a secure version if available.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without signing up.
