Malicious Code Injection in keyla-poke19: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-157584: Malicious code in keyla-poke19 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
keyla-poke19 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm registry. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to alter its own metadata and proliferate harmful variants, thereby compromising the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in keyla-poke19 originates from its design to execute autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file. These modifications include removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly install these malicious packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall keyla-poke19If 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 keyla-poke19 and any packages that may have been published as derivatives. Regularly audit your project's dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The keyla-poke19 package poses a significant threat to npm users due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and proliferates harmful variants. It is essential to take immediate action by removing the package and monitoring your dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can enhance your project's security posture.
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FAQ
keyla-poke19 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious packages that may compromise your application's security and integrity.
You should uninstall keyla-poke19 immediately using 'npm uninstall keyla-poke19' and review your project's dependencies for any other potentially harmful packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can also check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Yes, tools like npm audit can help identify vulnerabilities in your project's dependencies, and Vulert provides real-time alerts for open-source vulnerabilities.
