Malicious Code Injection in parwo-poke3: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-164000: Malicious code in parwo-poke3 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
parwo-poke3 is an npm package that has been implicated in a malicious campaign targeting the npm registry. This package is part of a broader initiative that aims to exploit the npm ecosystem by flooding it with derivative packages that are generated automatically. These packages are designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through the tea.xyz token reward system, which incentivizes the creation of numerous low-quality packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in parwo-poke3 stems from its association with a malicious campaign that utilizes autopublish scripts to generate and publish numerous derivative packages. These scripts modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and create random package names, thereby polluting the npm registry. The ramifications of this vulnerability include the potential for developers to unknowingly install compromised packages, leading to security risks and degraded trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall parwo-poke3If 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 parwo-poke3 and any other packages that are part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your package dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The parwo-poke3 package poses a significant risk due to its involvement in a malicious npm campaign. Developers should take immediate action to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in maintaining the security of your applications.
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FAQ
parwo-poke3 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating the npm registry.
The malicious code can lead to the installation of compromised packages, which may introduce security vulnerabilities and degrade the integrity of your project.
You should remove the parwo-poke3 package from your project and check for any other affected packages.
You can use tools like npm audit or Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
