Malicious Code Injection in parwo-poke36: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-164007: Malicious code in parwo-poke36 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
parwo-poke36 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 this package lies in its ability to modify its own metadata and continuously republish variants, thereby polluting the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in parwo-poke36 originates from its design to include autopublish scripts that alter the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. This allows the package to generate random names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and republish itself under these names. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these packages, as they may introduce malicious code into their applications, compromise their systems, and damage their reputations.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall parwo-poke36If 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 parwo-poke36 package and any packages that depend on it. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by visiting the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without needing to sign up.
Conclusion
The parwo-poke36 package poses a significant risk to developers using npm due to its malicious code and the potential for widespread impact on the ecosystem. It is essential to take immediate action to remove this package and monitor your projects for vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for parwo-poke36 →
FAQ
parwo-poke36 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 introduce malicious code into your project, potentially compromising your system and affecting your application's integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall parwo-poke36' and check for any dependencies that may rely on it.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
You can check your application for vulnerabilities by visiting the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner without needing to sign up.
