npm Provenance

Definition

npm Provenance refers to the traceability and verification of the origin and integrity of npm packages. It involves ensuring that the packages used in a project are sourced from legitimate and trusted origins, have not been tampered with, and are verified against known cryptographic signatures. This process is crucial for maintaining the security of applications by preventing the introduction of malicious code through third-party dependencies.

Secure Settings Example

{
  "scripts": {
    "preinstall": "npx npm-verify"
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "example-package": "1.0.0"
  },
  "packageManager": "npm@>=7"
}

In this example, the preinstall script uses npx npm-verify to ensure that all packages are verified before installation, leveraging npm’s built-in integrity checks available in npm version 7 and above.

Insecure Settings Example

{
  "dependencies": {
    "example-package": "1.0.0"
  }
}

This configuration lacks any verification step, allowing packages to be installed without checking their integrity or provenance, potentially introducing vulnerabilities through unverified or malicious packages.