Malicious Code Injection in inal-poke73: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-156463: Malicious code in inal-poke73 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'inal-poke73' is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been linked to a series of malicious activities aimed at inflating developer reputation scores. The package is designed to generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names, which can lead to pollution of the npm registry and compromise the integrity of the ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'inal-poke73' originates from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is part of a broader scheme to automatically publish numerous variants of the package, thereby flooding the npm registry. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly install these malicious packages, as well as damage to the reputation of the npm ecosystem as a whole.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall inal-poke73If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, avoid using the 'inal-poke73' package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may have inadvertently included it. Regularly audit your package-lock.json file to identify and remove any malicious packages.
Conclusion
The 'inal-poke73' package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and flood the registry. It is essential for developers to be vigilant, remove this package from their projects, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
The inal-poke73 package contains malicious code that modifies package.json files and floods the npm registry with derivative packages.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall inal-poke73' and check for any dependencies that may rely on it.
Yes, using this package can lead to security vulnerabilities, including the risk of installing additional malicious packages and compromising your project's integrity.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities, and stay informed about the packages you include in your projects.
