Malicious Code Injection in inal-poke52: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-156440: Malicious code in inal-poke52 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Habilume
Habit tracker with a companion that grows with you
Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
Background
The package 'inal-poke52' 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 for rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and poses risks to users.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'inal-poke52' originates from its association with a campaign that floods the npm registry with malicious packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior leads to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting other developers and users who rely on npm packages. The malicious scripts included in the package are designed to continuously republish variants, exacerbating the issue.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall inal-poke52If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary measure, avoid using the 'inal-poke52' package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. You can also monitor your project for any unauthorized changes to package.json and other critical files.
Conclusion
The 'inal-poke52' package presents a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and pollute the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and to remain vigilant about the security of their dependencies.
See every vulnerability recorded for inal-poke52 →
FAQ
'inal-poke52' is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the automatic publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications in your package.json file, potentially compromising your project's integrity and security.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall inal-poke52' and review your project for any other vulnerabilities.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
Habilume
Habit tracker with a companion that grows with you
Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
