Executive brief
node-ipc is a popular Node.js library for inter-process communication used by many applications. Version 9.2.2 included hidden malicious functionality that was not part of the legitimate package—specifically, code that writes unexpected files to disk beyond the library's stated purpose. This represents a supply-chain compromise where malicious code was introduced by the maintainer, potentially affecting any application that installed this version.
Technical details
The vulnerability involves hidden functionality (CWE-912) introduced in node-ipc version 9.2.2 by the maintainer. A malicious dependency was added that writes files to disk unrelated to the package's core IPC functionality, bypassing user expectations and security policies. The attack requires no user interaction or authentication—simply installing or running the affected version executes the malicious code. Attackers can achieve arbitrary file writes, potentially enabling further compromise, data exfiltration, or persistence mechanisms. Versions prior to 9.2.2 are not affected; users should downgrade or patch to a corrected version.
Affected products
- npm node-ipc 9.2.2
Timeline
- 2022-03-16: disclosed: Vulnerability published in GitHub Advisory Database