Malicious Code Injection in layla-poke53: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-158039: Malicious code in layla-poke53 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
layla-poke53 is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate certain functionalities within the npm ecosystem, but it has been compromised, making it a vector for malicious activities. The vulnerability stems from its association with a series of autopublish scripts that generate and publish derivative packages, which can lead to reputation inflation and registry pollution.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in layla-poke53 originates from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture. The malicious payload continuously republishes these variants, which can clutter the npm registry and potentially lead to security risks for developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages. The source of this vulnerability has been identified by Amazon Inspector, highlighting the need for vigilance in package management.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall layla-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, consider removing the layla-poke53 package from your project until a secure version is released. You can do this by executing: npm uninstall layla-poke53. Additionally, you can monitor your dependencies using tools like Vulert, which alerts you to open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Conclusion
The layla-poke53 package has been compromised with malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers using npm. It is crucial to update or remove the package to mitigate potential threats. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
layla-poke53 is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to facilitate certain functionalities within the npm ecosystem.
The malicious code modifies your package.json, removes private flags, and generates random package names, which can lead to security risks and clutter in the npm registry.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
If an immediate update is not possible, consider uninstalling the package as a temporary measure and monitor your dependencies for any updates.
The vulnerability was identified by Amazon Inspector, which specializes in detecting malicious packages in the npm ecosystem.
