Malicious Code Injection in layla-poke42: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-158027: Malicious code in layla-poke42 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
layla-poke42 is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been associated with a series of malicious activities. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards but has been compromised to include harmful scripts that manipulate package metadata and publish unauthorized variants. The vulnerability stems from the package's design, which allows for automatic publishing and modification of its contents, making it susceptible to exploitation.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in layla-poke42 originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has led to the inclusion of malicious scripts. These scripts are designed to modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This not only inflates developer reputation scores but also pollutes the npm registry with unauthorized packages. The ramifications include potential security risks for users who unknowingly install these compromised packages, leading to further exploitation and abuse within the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall layla-poke42If 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 layla-poke42 package from your project by executing the following command: npm uninstall layla-poke42. This will prevent any malicious code from executing while you assess the situation and look for a secure alternative package.
Conclusion
The layla-poke42 package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant threat to users and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to mitigate potential risks. Regular monitoring of your dependencies using tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your projects.
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FAQ
layla-poke42 is an npm package that was part of a token reward campaign but has been compromised to include malicious code.
The malicious code can modify your package.json, remove private flags, and publish unauthorized package variants, posing security risks.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
