Malicious Code Injection in inal-poke48: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-156435: Malicious code in inal-poke48 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'inal-poke48' is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This campaign has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages that contain scripts designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores. The primary functionality of such packages is to generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'inal-poke48' stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these tainted 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 inal-poke48If 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-poke48' package altogether. If you have already installed it, you can remove it from your project by executing: 'npm uninstall inal-poke48'. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The 'inal-poke48' package presents a significant security risk due to its malicious behavior of modifying package metadata and republishing tainted packages. Developers are urged to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing monitoring tools like Vulert to safeguard their applications.
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FAQ
The 'inal-poke48' package is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately and monitor your project for any other vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check your application for vulnerabilities without needing to sign up.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use trusted sources for packages, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
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Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
