Malicious Code Injection in inal-poke28: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-156413: Malicious code in inal-poke28 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'inal-poke28' is part of a series of npm packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to modify critical files and republish variants, thereby polluting the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'inal-poke28' originates from its design to include autopublish scripts that alter the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. This allows the package to generate random names and continuously republish itself, leading to potential misuse of the npm registry and compromising the integrity of the ecosystem. Developers using this package may unknowingly contribute to the proliferation of malicious software.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall inal-poke28If 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 prevent the package from executing by restricting access to it in your project. However, the best course of action is to remove the package entirely to avoid any potential risks.
Conclusion
The 'inal-poke28' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package files and repopulates the npm registry with potentially harmful variants. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies to maintain the integrity of their projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for inal-poke28 →
FAQ
The inal-poke28 package contains malicious code that modifies package.json files and republish variants, potentially compromising the npm registry.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. By checking your package-lock.json file, you can identify if your application is affected.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall inal-poke28' and check for any dependencies that may rely on it.
Regularly audit your dependencies and use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
