Malicious Code Injection in lala-poke16: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-157938: Malicious code in lala-poke16 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'lala-poke16' is part of a series of npm packages that have been linked to a token reward campaign by tea.xyz. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior poses a significant risk to the integrity of the npm registry and the security of applications relying on these packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'lala-poke16' originates from its association with malicious scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. The scripts also generate random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry. This can result in developers inadvertently using compromised packages, which may introduce security risks and instability into their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall lala-poke16If 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 'lala-poke16' and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The 'lala-poke16' package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm registry entries. Developers should take immediate action to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to ensure the security and stability of their applications.
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FAQ
'lala-poke16' is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of compromised code in your application, potentially causing security issues and instability.
You should remove 'lala-poke16' from your project and check for any other affected packages. Use 'npm uninstall lala-poke16' to remove it.
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.
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Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
