npm's Structural Vulnerability: Why the Package Manager Remains Exposed to Supply Chain Attacks

npm's architecture—where post-install scripts execute automatically and anyone can publish packages—creates a supply chain attack surface that Python, Ruby, and Rust have deliberately rejected. A single compromised popular package infects hundreds of thousands of downstream projects before detection systems activate, making this a structural vulnerability rather than an operational one. For JavaScript teams, npm's attack surface is not a solvable problem but an inevitable risk baked into the ecosystem.