Malicious Code Injection in ita-26 Package: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-156941: Malicious code in ita-26 (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 ita-26 package is part of a larger campaign associated with the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages are designed to manipulate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. The malicious nature of ita-26 lies in its ability to alter package metadata, making it a significant threat to developers relying on npm for package management.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the ita-26 package originates from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that employs scripts to modify package.json files. This manipulation removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. The ramifications include pollution of the npm registry, potential security risks for developers who unknowingly integrate these packages, and a compromised reputation system within the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ita-26If 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 remove the ita-26 package from your project by executing the command: 'npm uninstall ita-26'. This will prevent any malicious code from executing while you assess alternative packages or wait for a patched version.
Conclusion
The ita-26 package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm package metadata. Developers should take immediate action to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help ensure ongoing security in your software development process.
See every vulnerability recorded for ita-26 →
FAQ
The ita-26 package is a malicious npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to manipulate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may introduce security risks if the package is integrated into your project.
You should uninstall the ita-26 package immediately and check for any updates or patches that address the vulnerability.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
