Malicious Code Injection in inal-poke26: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-156411: Malicious code in inal-poke26 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'inal-poke26' is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. Its primary function is to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, but it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that can alter package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'inal-poke26' stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with harmful packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting other developers and projects that rely on npm packages. The origin of this issue is linked to the automated scripts designed to exploit the npm ecosystem for token rewards, making it a significant concern for developers.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall inal-poke26If 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 'inal-poke26' package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may inadvertently include it. Regularly check your package-lock.json file for any suspicious entries.
Conclusion
The 'inal-poke26' package poses a significant risk to developers using npm due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies to maintain the security of your projects.
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FAQ
The 'inal-poke26' package is an npm package associated with a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through automated publishing of derivative packages.
This vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may affect your project by introducing malicious code or dependencies that compromise security.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. By using the Vulert playground, you can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
If you find 'inal-poke26' in your dependencies, you should uninstall it immediately using 'npm uninstall inal-poke26' and review your other dependencies for any potential vulnerabilities.
To prevent similar vulnerabilities, regularly update your dependencies, use trusted packages, and monitor your project with tools like Vulert to stay informed about potential threats.
