Malicious Code Detected in pexels-core-sdk: Security Risk Alert
Summary
MAL-2025-6748: Malicious code in pexels-core-sdk (npm). Affects pexels-core-sdk versions >= 2.8.6. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The pexels-core-sdk is a Node.js package designed to facilitate access to the Pexels API, allowing developers to integrate high-quality stock photos and videos into their applications. It offers features such as searching for images, retrieving photo details, and managing collections. However, a recent vulnerability has been identified that compromises the security of this package, making it susceptible to malicious activities.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the pexels-core-sdk package arises from its communication with a domain associated with malicious activity. This could potentially lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, or the execution of harmful code within applications utilizing this package. The issue was introduced in version 2.8.6, and it poses significant risks to developers and users relying on this package for secure and reliable functionality.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall pexels-core-sdkIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, consider removing the pexels-core-sdk package from your project until a secure version is available. You can uninstall the package using the following command: npm uninstall pexels-core-sdk.
Conclusion
The pexels-core-sdk package has been found to contain malicious code due to its communication with a harmful domain. It is crucial for developers to update or remove this package to safeguard their applications. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor and alert for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
The pexels-core-sdk is a Node.js package that allows developers to access the Pexels API for integrating stock photos and videos into applications.
The vulnerability involves the package communicating with a domain linked to malicious activities, posing risks of unauthorized access and data breaches.
You can use Vulert, which monitors open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Simply upload your package-lock.json file to the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities.
If an immediate update is not possible, consider removing the package from your project as a temporary measure until a secure version is released.
The vulnerability was identified by Amazon Inspector, a security service that helps identify vulnerabilities in applications.
