When it comes to website security, there are a seemingly endless number of evolving threats. One of those current threats involves something known as malicious NPM packages. These malware threats are so nefarious because they can mimic regular NPM packages that people often use and access.

So what exactly are malicious NPM packages and how can they hurt your site? Let's take a deeper dive into the threat NPM malware might pose to you and how you can keep your website secure from them.

NPM stands for Node Package Manager. It acts as a library and a registry for software packages. The NPM is the world's biggest software registry, with over 800,000 code packages.

Think about how plugins and themes operate on your website from a backend functionality perspective. NPM packages function in much the same way. All content management systems (CMS) - including popular ones such as WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and Opencart - use NPM packages to extend frontend functionality.

This doesn't make NPM packages inherently dangerous - but when they're compromised, it's a much different story.

This is a complicated question to answer. Some examples of common NPM packages include NPM Request, Superagent, and Mongoose, as well as security-centric packages such as Validator or JSON web token. Many of the often-used, popular NPM packages contain vulnerabilities. Using them involves taking on a substantial risk - unless you have the proper security audits and protocols in place to keep your website or project safe.

So how do malicious NPM packages inflict damage? There are several methods:

• Data Breaches. Malicious packages can contain code that captures and disseminates sensitive data. This can lead to a data breach that exposes sensitive, personally identifiable information of website users.
• Code Injection. A hacker may inject malicious code into an NPM package. That code can lay dormant if unnoticed, but once the code is executed, your site's data and security may be compromised.
• Denial of Service (DoS). Malicious packages often have code that can lead to a DoS attack on the site. This can cause your site to become unresponsive, significantly disrupting operations.
• Malware Distribution. Some types of NPM packages also send malware to users. The users then download and install the malware, which spreads it from your site as the original source all the way to your users.
• Backdoors. Hackers often introduce backdoors into your app or website. This provides them with unfettered access to your site, allowing them total control.

There are several increasingly popular vectors for malicious NPM packages, including:

• Brandjacking. This is where a hacker takes on the digital identity of the actual owner of an NPM package, using their identity to conduct fraudulent activity.

• Typosquatting. This is where a hacker publishes a malicious NPM package with a name that appears nearly identical to another popular, non-malicious package - a typo so small that only someone carefully inspecting it would catch it. The hacker's goal is that someone will unintentionally download the malicious NPM package, thinking they're accessing the non-malicious one.

• Dependency hijacking and dependency confusion. Both of these involve hackers substituting malicious NPM packages for legitimate ones.

While the methods of malicious hackers can seem complex and lean on social engineering, the ways in which their efforts can impact your site are devastatingly simple. Javascript code from NPM malware is infused with the website's body code. From there, the code is executed by the web browser once someone visits the site.

When malicious code is included as part of an NPM package, it has the capability to compromise your site's data and bring your operations to a halt. This can lead to a loss of reputation, disrupt your site's visitors, as well as lead to reputational damage from your audience or customers.

There's no doubt that malicious NPM packages may have the ability to significantly disrupt your site's operations if they're allowed to run rampant. But there are actions you can take to protect yourself.

The first step is to identify a security platform that can keep your site protected, safeguarding you with
both a strong proactive and reactive posture. Quttera's ThreatSign! platform provides you with everything you'll need, including:

ThreatSign! provides a WAF that can block malicious requests and code injections. This keeps your website secure from attacks initiated by malicious NPM packages.

Regular scanning allows you to detect and remove malware from your site. If an NPM package has infected your site and gotten anything malicious through, this capability is critical.

With ThreatSign! and its behavior-based analysis to identify and block suspicious activity, you'll be able to detect and even potentially prevent attacks before they occur.

Attacks can happen at a moment's notice and when they do, you'll want to take action fast. With real-time monitoring, you can quickly detect and respond to NPM package vulnerability-based attacks.

Continuous monitoring is also crucial to staying informed about your site's operations and safety on a regular basis. With regular scanning, you can react quickly to any NPM package-related issues quickly.

ThreatSign! can integrate with SIEM systems. This fortifies your website's overall cybersecurity, giving you the best possible defense with event monitoring and analysis.

There's no doubt that malicious NPM packages may have the ability to significantly disrupt your site's operations if they're allowed to run rampant. But there are actions you can take to protect yourself.

The first step is to identify a security platform that can keep your site protected, safeguarding you with
both a strong proactive and reactive posture. Quttera's ThreatSign! platform provides you with everything you'll need, including:

If there ever is a security breach, you'll want to have the right platform in place. ThreatSign! has extensive incident response capabilities to help you recover and restore your site following an attack.
When it comes to the threat posed by malicious NPM packages, don't leave your site's security to fate. Use a platform developed and operated by experts in website protection.

Are you looking to keep your website secure and increase your peace of mind? Then sign up for Quttera's ThreatSign! platform today to protect your website 24/7 from malware and hackers.