Malicious Code Injection in parwo-poke49: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-164021: Malicious code in parwo-poke49 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
parwo-poke49 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 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 manipulate package metadata and proliferate harmful variants across the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in parwo-poke49 originates from its design to include autopublish scripts that alter the package.json file. This modification removes private flags, changes version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. The ramifications of this vulnerability include the pollution of the npm registry, potential security risks for developers using these packages, and the undermining of trust in the npm ecosystem. The malicious payload can significantly affect developers by introducing untrusted code into their projects.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall parwo-poke49If 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-poke49 package and monitor your project for any instances of this package in your package-lock.json. If found, remove it manually and replace it with a trusted alternative.
Conclusion
The parwo-poke49 package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and proliferates harmful variants. Developers are advised to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your projects.
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FAQ
parwo-poke49 is an npm package identified as part of a malicious campaign that modifies package metadata and publishes harmful variants.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of untrusted code into your project, potentially compromising security and stability.
You should remove the package immediately and check for any instances in your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
