Malicious Code Injection in kentung-12 Package: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-157491: Malicious code in kentung-12 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The kentung-12 package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily used for various JavaScript applications. It is often involved in token reward campaigns, which can lead to the proliferation of malicious packages. This specific package has been identified as part of a scheme that generates and publishes derivative packages to manipulate developer reputation scores.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the kentung-12 package originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It contains malicious 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 these variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can compromise the integrity of applications relying on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall kentung-12If 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 remove the kentung-12 package from your project by executing: npm uninstall kentung-12. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The kentung-12 package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is essential for developers to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for kentung-12 →
FAQ
The kentung-12 package is an npm package that has been linked to malicious activities, specifically in the context of token reward campaigns.
The vulnerability can lead to the injection of malicious code, which may compromise your application's integrity and security.
You should immediately update the package to the latest version or uninstall it to mitigate the risk.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
