Malicious Code Injection in cici-empal92-ruro Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-100417: Malicious code in cici-empal92-ruro (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The cici-empal92-ruro package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package, like many others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate npm's publishing system by creating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. It aims to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, making it a target for malicious activities.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the cici-empal92-ruro package stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior pollutes the npm registry and can compromise the integrity of the ecosystem, potentially affecting developers who rely on npm for package management.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall cici-empal92-ruroIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can avoid using the cici-empal92-ruro package and any packages that depend on it. Regularly monitor your package-lock.json file for any unauthorized changes and consider using tools like Vulert to track vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
Conclusion
The cici-empal92-ruro package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their projects.
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FAQ
The cici-empal92-ruro package is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that manipulates the npm registry.
This vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your project's dependencies.
You should uninstall the cici-empal92-ruro package immediately and check for any dependencies that may rely on it.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
