# Dependency Confusion > A dependency confusion attack or supply chain substitution attack occurs when a software installer script is tricked into pulling a malicious code file from a public repository instead of the intended file of the same name from an internal repository. ## Summary * [Tools](#tools) * [Exploit](#exploitation) * [References](#references) ## Exploit Look for `npm`, `pip`, `gem` packages, the methodology is the same : you register a public package with the same name of private one used by the company and then you wait for it to be used. ### NPM example * List all the packages (ie: package.json, composer.json, ...) * Find the package missing from https://www.npmjs.com/ * Register and create a **public** package with the same name * Package example : https://github.com/0xsapra/dependency-confusion-expoit ## References * [Exploiting Dependency Confusion - 2 Jul 2021 - 0xsapra](https://0xsapra.github.io/website//Exploiting-Dependency-Confusion) * [Dependency Confusion: How I Hacked Into Apple, Microsoft and Dozens of Other Companies - Alex Birsan - 9 Feb 2021](https://medium.com/@alex.birsan/dependency-confusion-4a5d60fec610) * [Ways to Mitigate Risk When Using Private Package Feeds - Microsoft - 29/03/2021](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/resources/3-ways-to-mitigate-risk-using-private-package-feeds/) * [$130,000+ Learn New Hacking Technique in 2021 - Dependency Confusion - Bug Bounty Reports Explained]( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFHJwehpBrU )