Malicious Code Injection in parwo-poke53: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-164026: Malicious code in parwo-poke53 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
parwo-poke53 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 has been known to flood the npm registry with derivative packages. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts, making them a significant threat to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in parwo-poke53 stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is intended to continuously republish variants of the package, polluting the npm registry and potentially leading to security risks for developers who unknowingly use these compromised packages. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which employs autopublish scripts to automate the creation of these malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall parwo-poke53If 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-poke53 package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project for any dependencies that may have been affected by this vulnerability.
Conclusion
The parwo-poke53 package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to be aware of this vulnerability and take immediate action to remove the affected package from their projects. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring for such vulnerabilities in the future.
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FAQ
parwo-poke53 is an npm package linked to a malicious campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may expose your project to security risks if you inadvertently use compromised packages.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command npm uninstall parwo-poke53 to mitigate any potential risks.
Yes, tools like Vulert can monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities using just the package-lock.json file, providing real-time alerts.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
