Malicious Code Detected in character-local Package - Security Alert

character-local Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

14/08/2025
CRITICAL
No i
Critical
Not published

MAL-2025-16795: Malicious code in character-local (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓

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Background

The character-local package is an npm library designed for handling character localization in applications. It provides developers with tools to manage and manipulate character sets effectively. However, recent findings have revealed that this package contains malicious code, posing significant security risks to applications that utilize it.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability in the character-local package stems from the inclusion of malicious code that can compromise the security of applications using this library. This code may lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, or other harmful actions within the affected systems. The issue was introduced in version 0 and affects all subsequent versions, making it critical for developers to address this vulnerability promptly.

How To Fix

This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.

npm uninstall character-local

If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.

Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →

Workaround

As a temporary workaround, consider removing the character-local package from your project until a secure version is released. You can do this by executing the command: npm uninstall character-local.

Conclusion

The discovery of malicious code in the character-local package highlights the importance of maintaining secure dependencies in software development. Developers are urged to take immediate action by updating or removing the affected package to safeguard their applications.

See every vulnerability recorded for character-local →

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FAQ

The character-local package is an npm library used for character localization in applications, helping developers manage character sets.

The malicious code found in the character-local package can lead to unauthorized access and potential data breaches.

You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Check your application using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner without any signup.

It is advised to check the package repository for any patched versions of the character-local package and update accordingly.

As a temporary measure, you can uninstall the character-local package from your project to mitigate the risk until a secure version is available.

How To Fix

This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.

npm uninstall character-local

If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.

Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →

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