Malicious Code Injection in ita-5 Package: npm Vulnerability Overview
Summary
MAL-2025-156967: Malicious code in ita-5 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The ita-5 package 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 publication of derivative packages. It aims to inflate developer reputation scores for rewards associated with the tea protocol. However, its functionality is compromised by malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the ita-5 package originates from its inclusion in a campaign that floods the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages contain scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of dependent projects.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ita-5If 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 avoid using the ita-5 package altogether. If it is already included in your project, remove it by executing: npm uninstall ita-5. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The ita-5 package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and monitor for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to ensure the security of your software.
See every vulnerability recorded for ita-5 →
FAQ
The ita-5 package is part of a campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores in the npm ecosystem by generating and publishing numerous derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising the integrity of your project and affecting its dependencies.
If you have installed the ita-5 package, it is recommended to uninstall it immediately and monitor your project for any further vulnerabilities.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing the package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
