Malicious Code Injection in lala-poke45: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-157970: Malicious code in lala-poke45 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'lala-poke45' is part of the npm ecosystem and has been identified as a component of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages with randomized names, which can inflate developer reputation scores in exchange for tea protocol token rewards. However, this functionality has been exploited to introduce malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'lala-poke45' originates from its association with a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising other packages. The malicious payload can affect developers by inflating reputation scores through deceptive practices, leading to a loss of trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall lala-poke45If 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 'lala-poke45' package from your project by executing the command: 'npm uninstall lala-poke45'. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a patched version is available.
Conclusion
The 'lala-poke45' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. Developers should take immediate action to remove this package and monitor their projects for any potential vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can enhance security by providing real-time alerts for open-source vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
The main issue is that it contains malicious code that modifies package.json files and republish variants to the npm registry, compromising the integrity of the ecosystem.
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If you have installed lala-poke45, it is recommended to uninstall it immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
Currently, there is no specific patch version mentioned for lala-poke45. It is advisable to monitor the package for updates and use alternatives if necessary.
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