Malicious Code Exploit in kentung-25: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-157505: Malicious code in kentung-25 (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 kentung-25 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, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages often contain scripts designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores, posing a significant risk to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in kentung-25 originates from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, effectively polluting the npm registry. The ramifications include compromised developer reputations and potential security risks for applications relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall kentung-25If 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 monitor your package dependencies using tools like Vulert. By utilizing Vulert's playground at https://vulert.com/scanner, you can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
Conclusion
The kentung-25 package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm package metadata. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant and remove such packages from their projects to maintain the integrity of their applications. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring for vulnerabilities effectively.
See every vulnerability recorded for kentung-25 →
FAQ
Kentung-25 is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising the integrity of your application and affecting its dependencies.
You should uninstall the kentung-25 package immediately using the command 'npm uninstall kentung-25' to mitigate any risks.
There are no patches available for kentung-25 as it is recommended to remove the package entirely from your project.
You can use Vulert to monitor your package dependencies in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without needing to sign up.
