Malicious Code Injection in implicit_pony_requirement Package
Summary
MAL-2025-94946: Malicious code in implicit_pony_requirement (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The implicit_pony_requirement package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores in exchange for tea protocol token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious scripts that compromise its integrity.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the implicit_pony_requirement package stems from its inclusion of malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall implicit_pony_requirementIf 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 implicit_pony_requirement package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The implicit_pony_requirement package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and repopulates the npm registry with compromised packages. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor your dependencies to maintain security.
See every vulnerability recorded for implicit_pony_requirement →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code can alter your package.json file, leading to the installation of compromised packages that may introduce security risks.
You should uninstall the implicit_pony_requirement package immediately and check your project for any other potentially compromised packages.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. You can check your application for vulnerabilities without signup at the Vulert playground.
Regularly update your dependencies, use trusted packages, and consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your projects for vulnerabilities.
