Malicious Code Vulnerability in lala-poke39: npm Package Exploit
Summary
MAL-2025-157963: Malicious code in lala-poke39 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'lala-poke39' is part of a series of malicious npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by creating and publishing numerous derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior aims to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, compromising the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'lala-poke39' originates from its malicious code, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This not only affects the reputation of legitimate developers but also poses a risk of dependency confusion and potential security breaches for applications relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall lala-poke39If 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-poke39' and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Instead, rely on trusted packages and verify their integrity before installation. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The 'lala-poke39' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in maintaining the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for lala-poke39 →
FAQ
The main issue is that it contains malicious code that modifies package.json files and floods the npm registry with derivative packages.
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You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall lala-poke39' and check for any other affected packages.
Currently, there are no known patches for the lala-poke39 package. It is recommended to remove the package entirely.
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