Malicious Code Vulnerability in inal-poke36: npm Package Exploitation
Summary
MAL-2025-156422: Malicious code in inal-poke36 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'inal-poke36' is part of a series of npm packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing numerous derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for rewards in the tea protocol, making it a target for malicious exploitation.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'inal-poke36' stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This results in the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry, potentially leading to a loss of trust in the ecosystem and misuse of developer credentials.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall inal-poke36If 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-poke36' package and monitor your dependencies for any malicious activity. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to scan your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The 'inal-poke36' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior aimed at manipulating the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies to maintain the integrity of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for inal-poke36 →
FAQ
'inal-poke36' is an npm package associated with a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating the npm registry.
This vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and compromise your application's integrity by introducing malicious code.
You should remove the 'inal-poke36' package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check your application for vulnerabilities without requiring an account.
Vulert monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file, providing real-time insights into potential risks.
