Malicious Code Injection in inal-poke72: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-156462: Malicious code in inal-poke72 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'inal-poke72' is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package, like others in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, is designed to manipulate npm's publishing system. It contains scripts that automatically generate and publish derivative packages, which can lead to reputation inflation for developers involved in the tea protocol token rewards. The malicious nature of this package poses significant risks to users and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'inal-poke72' originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It includes autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. This allows the package to generate random names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republish variants. The ramifications include pollution of the npm registry, potential security risks for users who unknowingly install these packages, and a compromised developer reputation system.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall inal-poke72If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
Currently, the best workaround is to avoid using the 'inal-poke72' package altogether. If you have already installed it, ensure to remove it immediately and monitor your project for any other potentially malicious packages. You can also use tools like Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The 'inal-poke72' package poses a significant threat to npm users due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. Users are advised to uninstall this package and monitor their projects for similar vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in maintaining the security of your applications.
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FAQ
'inal-poke72' is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through automated publishing of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious packages that may compromise your project's security and integrity, as well as pollute the npm registry.
You should immediately uninstall the package using 'npm uninstall inal-poke72' and check for any other potentially harmful packages in your project.
Yes, tools like Vulert can monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
