Malicious Code Injection in parwo-poke52: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-164025: Malicious code in parwo-poke52 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
parwo-poke52 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm registry. This package is designed to manipulate the npm ecosystem by generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. Its primary function is to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards associated with the tea protocol. The malicious nature of this package poses significant risks to developers and users relying on npm for package management.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in parwo-poke52 stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. It generates random package names, often 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 exposes users to potential security risks and unreliable package versions.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall parwo-poke52If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can monitor your package dependencies using tools like Vulert. By utilizing Vulert's playground at https://vulert.com/scanner, you can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup. This allows you to stay informed about potential vulnerabilities in your open-source packages.
Conclusion
The parwo-poke52 package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and floods the registry with unreliable packages. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their projects.
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FAQ
parwo-poke52 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating the npm ecosystem.
The vulnerability can compromise the integrity of your project by introducing unreliable package versions and potential security risks.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command 'npm uninstall parwo-poke52' and check your project for any other affected packages.
You can use Vulert to monitor your package dependencies in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities without needing to access the code or installation.
Yes, you can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by vulnerabilities without requiring any signup.
