Malicious Code Injection in inal-poke91: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-156482: Malicious code in inal-poke91 (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
Background
The package 'inal-poke91' 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 publishing of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'inal-poke91' originates 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, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This behavior not only affects the reputation of developers but also poses a risk to users who may unknowingly install compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall inal-poke91If 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 workaround, you can avoid using the 'inal-poke91' package altogether. If it is a dependency in your project, consider removing it from your package.json and using alternative packages that do not have known vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The 'inal-poke91' package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repopulates the registry with compromised packages. Users are urged to take immediate action to mitigate risks by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert for ongoing vulnerability monitoring.
See every vulnerability recorded for inal-poke91 →
FAQ
The malicious code modifies package.json to remove private flags and changes version numbers, allowing for the continuous republishing of compromised packages.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Visit the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
Using the inal-poke91 package can lead to the installation of compromised packages, which may contain harmful code that can affect your application's security and integrity.
Regularly audit your dependencies and use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time. Keeping your packages updated is also crucial.
If you have installed the package, it is advisable to remove it immediately and update your project to eliminate any potential risks.
