Malicious Code Injection in inal-poke6: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-156448: Malicious code in inal-poke6 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'inal-poke6' is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. It is involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been associated with malicious activities. This package is designed to manipulate npm's publishing system, potentially affecting developers and their projects by inflating reputation scores through automated scripts.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'inal-poke6' stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to the npm registry. This behavior not only pollutes the registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches and loss of trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall inal-poke6If 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 'inal-poke6' and any packages that depend on it. Regularly audit your project's dependencies using tools like 'npm audit' to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The 'inal-poke6' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. Developers should take immediate action to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for inal-poke6 →
FAQ
The malicious code can lead to unauthorized modifications in your project, potentially compromising security and integrity.
You can use the Vulert platform to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. By analyzing your package-lock.json file, Vulert provides real-time alerts for any open-source vulnerabilities.
To prevent future vulnerabilities, regularly audit your dependencies, use trusted sources for packages, and keep your packages updated.
Immediately uninstall the package and review your project for any potential security issues that may have arisen from its use.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
