Malicious Code Injection in inal-poke96: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-156487: Malicious code in inal-poke96 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'inal-poke96' 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's functionality is compromised due to the presence of malicious scripts that manipulate its metadata and behavior.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'inal-poke96' originates from its association with a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall inal-poke96If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the 'inal-poke96' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Always verify the integrity of packages before installation.
Conclusion
The 'inal-poke96' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant, remove compromised packages, and utilize tools like Vulert to safeguard their applications against such vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
The inal-poke96 package contains malicious code that modifies its metadata and publishes derivative packages to inflate developer reputation scores.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. By checking your package-lock.json file, you can determine if your application is affected.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall inal-poke96' and review your project for any other potentially compromised packages.
Yes, there are many reputable packages available in the npm registry that can serve similar purposes. Always check the package's reputation and reviews before installation.
Regularly update your dependencies, use tools like Vulert to monitor vulnerabilities, and only install packages from trusted sources.
