Solana: Yarn/Npm Package Vulnerabilities Upon Initializing a New Anchor Project

Relatively new to Anchor/Solana.

I have successfully set up the Anchor/Solana development environment, the newly created projects (with anchor init NAME) build and run without issues.

However, one thing that caught my attention was that I’ve noticed some potential vulnerabilities when initializing a new Anchor project. As a Solana developer, it’s essential to be aware of these potential issues to ensure the security and reliability of your Anchor setup.

Here are some Yarn/Npm package vulnerabilities I’ve encountered while setting up a new Anchor project:

• Overly permissive yarn link policy: By default, Yarn allows a single repository to be linked across projects using yarn link. This can lead to issues if you’re sharing dependencies between multiple projects.

• Missing security audits

  : As Solana’s ecosystem continues to grow, so does the number of vulnerabilities discovered in open-source libraries and packages used within Anchor. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning can help identify potential issues before they become problems.

• Insufficient yarn lock management: The yarn lock file is crucial for ensuring that dependencies are up-to-date and consistent across projects. Without proper management, you may end up with duplicate or outdated dependencies in your projects.

To address these vulnerabilities, I recommend the following best practices when initializing a new Anchor project:

1. Update Yarn to the latest version

Make sure you are running the latest version of Yarn by updating it using yarn outdated and then upgrading it to the latest version using yarn install.

yarn outdated --format=full | yarn upgrade -g

2. Use a yarn link configuration file

Create a new file in your project root (e.g., .yarn-link-config.yaml) with the following content:

package: anchor-sdk

url:

This allows you to specify an external repository for shared dependencies across projects.

3. Set up npm as a fallback

If you’re concerned about Yarn’s permissive policy, consider setting up npm as a fallback for specific packages or libraries that require it. This ensures your project remains compatible with older versions of these dependencies.

Install Anchor SDK using npm (as a fallback)

npm install anchor-sdk@latest --save-dev



Update the yarn.lock file to include npm instead

yarn config lock file yarn.lock

4. Perform regular security audits and vulnerability scanning

Schedule regular security audits and vulnerability scans for your projects using tools like SonarQube, OWASP ZAP, or your preferred solution.

By following these best practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of Yarn/Npm package vulnerabilities when initializing a new Anchor project. Remember to stay up-to-date with the latest Solana ecosystem developments to ensure the continued security and reliability of your Anchor setup.

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