Malicious Code Injection in keyla-poke48: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-157616: Malicious code in keyla-poke48 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
keyla-poke48 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm ecosystem. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores by flooding the npm registry with derivative packages. The package's functionality is compromised due to the presence of malicious scripts that manipulate its metadata and behavior.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in keyla-poke48 stems from malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is designed to continuously republish variants of the package, polluting the npm registry and potentially leading to security risks for developers who unknowingly use these compromised packages. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which employs autopublish scripts to automate the creation of these malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall keyla-poke48If 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 keyla-poke48 package from your project by executing the following command: npm uninstall keyla-poke48. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The keyla-poke48 package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code that alters project metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant, update their dependencies, and utilize monitoring tools like Vulert to safeguard their projects against such vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
keyla-poke48 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the creation of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially exposing your project to security risks and polluting the npm registry with compromised packages.
If you have installed keyla-poke48, it is recommended to uninstall the package immediately and check for any updates or patches.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground without any signup.
To prevent future vulnerabilities, regularly update your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring, and review package sources before installation.
