Malicious Code Injection in keyla-poke53: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-157622: Malicious code in keyla-poke53 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
keyla-poke53 is an npm package that is part of a larger campaign aimed at exploiting the npm registry. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards for the tea.xyz protocol, which has led to the proliferation of malicious packages within the npm ecosystem. The package's functionality is compromised by the presence of malicious scripts that manipulate its metadata and behavior.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in keyla-poke53 stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that generates and publishes derivative packages with altered metadata. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and creates random package names, which can lead to the pollution of the npm registry. This behavior not only affects the integrity of the npm ecosystem but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall keyla-poke53If 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 the keyla-poke53 package and any other packages that are part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and mitigate risks.
Conclusion
The keyla-poke53 package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and contributes to the pollution of the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remain vigilant, regularly audit their dependencies, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
keyla-poke53 is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at exploiting the npm registry for token rewards.
The malicious code can alter your project's package.json, remove private flags, and pollute the npm registry with compromised packages.
You should remove the keyla-poke53 package from your project immediately and audit your dependencies for any other malicious packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
