Dependency Confusion

Definition ∞ Dependency confusion is a software supply chain attack where an attacker registers a malicious package with the same name as an internal, private package. When a system attempts to install or update its dependencies, it might inadvertently fetch the malicious public package instead of the intended private one. This vulnerability arises from package managers prioritizing public repositories over private ones in certain configurations. The result is the execution of unauthorized code within a project.
Context ∞ Dependency confusion poses a significant risk to the security of blockchain projects and digital asset platforms, as these often rely on numerous external code libraries. News sometimes reports on successful attacks that compromise development environments, potentially leading to backdoors in smart contracts or decentralized applications. Mitigating this threat requires careful management of package registries and strict adherence to secure coding practices to prevent supply chain compromises.