Malicious Code Injection in irashi-21-a: npm Package Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-156884: Malicious code in irashi-21-a (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The irashi-21-a package 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 that has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. The primary function of this package is to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, its malicious nature poses significant risks to developers and users alike.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the irashi-21-a package stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture. This behavior is designed to continuously republish variants of the package, polluting the npm registry and potentially leading to reputation damage for developers. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which exploits npm's publishing mechanisms.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall irashi-21-aIf 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 prevent the installation of the irashi-21-a package by using the following command to block it: npm install --no-save irashi-21-a. However, the best practice is to remove the package entirely.
Conclusion
The irashi-21-a package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant and remove such packages from their projects to maintain security and integrity. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in identifying and mitigating these vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
The irashi-21-a package is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that generates and publishes derivative packages with malicious intent.
This vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially damaging your project's reputation and introducing security risks.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Check your application against this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
If you have installed the irashi-21-a package, you should uninstall it immediately using npm uninstall irashi-21-a.
Yes, tools like Vulert can help you monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities without requiring access to your code or installation.
