Historical catalog analysis: CISA added this entry on January 22, 2026. The entry reflects catalog information retrieved on August 31, 2026, not a snapshot archived on the inclusion date. Check current vendor guidance before acting.
What the vulnerability is
CVE-2025-54313 describes a vulnerability where the eslint-config-prettier package contains embedded malicious code (CWE-506). The risk manifests during the installation process: an install.js file is executed, which subsequently launches a malicious file identified as node-gyp.dll on Windows systems.
Exposure and applicability
This vulnerability specifically affects users of the eslint-config-prettier package who are operating within Windows environments. Because this is an open-source component, exposure extends to any project, third-party library, or proprietary implementation that includes this package as a dependency. Systems running non-Windows operating systems may not be subject to the specific execution path involving node-gyp.dll, though the presence of the malicious package remains a risk.
Remediation priorities
Based on the inclusion of this vulnerability in CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog as of January 22, 2026, remediation should be prioritized for Windows-based development environments and CI/CD pipelines.
Our analysis suggests the following priority actions:
1. Identify and Remove: Locate all instances of the affected eslint-config-prettier package across the environment. If a clean version is unavailable or cannot be verified, discontinue use of the product.
2. Apply Vendor Mitigations: Follow official vendor instructions to update to a non-malicious version of the package.
3. Dependency Audit: Review lock files (e.g., package-lock.json or yarn.lock) to identify if this package was introduced as a transitive dependency by other tools.
How to validate remediation
Verification must move beyond simple version checks, as the presence of a specific version does not inherently prove the absence of malicious artifacts on the host system.
Defenders should verify remediation through:
* Artifact Scanning: Searching for the existence of the node-gyp.dll file and the associated install.js within the node_modules directory of affected projects.
* Dependency Tree Validation: Using package manager tools to confirm that the resolved version of eslint-config-prettier matches a known-safe release provided by the vendor.
Limits and open questions
It remains unknown whether this vulnerability has been utilized in known ransomware campaigns. Additionally, while the source explicitly identifies the execution of node-gyp.dll on Windows, the full capabilities of the malware and its potential impact on other operating systems are not detailed. There is a residual risk that the malicious code may have established persistence or performed lateral movement prior to the removal of the package; therefore, removing the package alone does not guarantee the system is clean.
Source and editorial note
CVE-2025-54313: Prettier eslint-config-prettier Embedded Malicious Code Vulnerability · Source date: January 22, 2026 · Retrieved August 31, 2026.
Material facts are tied to the cited primary source. Recommendations are independent defensive analysis unless attributed to the source. Confirm consequential decisions against current authoritative guidance.
Archive date: January 25, 2026. The displayed post date is assigned three days after the source date to organize this retrospective archive; it does not mean this site published the analysis then. First published by this site: September 23, 2026 at 00:14 UTC.
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