Malicious Code Injection in keyla-poke36: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-157603: Malicious code in keyla-poke36 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
keyla-poke36 is an npm package that appears to be part of a broader scheme involving the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores in exchange for token rewards. However, it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that can alter its own metadata and proliferate harmful variants across the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in keyla-poke36 stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. This allows the package to continuously republish itself under random names, polluting the npm registry and potentially leading to security risks for users who unknowingly install these variants. The malicious payload is designed to exploit the npm ecosystem by creating numerous derivative packages with deceptive names, making it difficult for developers to identify the original, safe package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall keyla-poke36If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can manually check their package-lock.json file for any instances of keyla-poke36 and remove it. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The keyla-poke36 package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise npm projects. Users are advised to uninstall the package and monitor their dependencies for any vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in maintaining the security of your projects.
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FAQ
keyla-poke36 is an npm package involved in a token reward campaign that has been compromised to include malicious code.
The malicious code can modify your package.json file, remove private flags, and create numerous derivative packages, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities.
You should uninstall the package immediately and monitor your project for any signs of compromise.
Regularly audit your dependencies and use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
You can find detailed information about this vulnerability in the package's repository or by checking security advisories related to npm packages.
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