Malicious Code Injection in lina-poke38: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-158121: Malicious code in lina-poke38 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
lina-poke38 is an npm package that has been associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. It is part of a larger trend where malicious actors flood the npm registry with packages that inflate developer reputation scores, often leading to the proliferation of harmful software.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in lina-poke38 stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these tainted packages. The malicious payload is designed to continuously republish variants, further polluting the ecosystem and potentially leading to security breaches in applications that rely on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall lina-poke38If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, avoid using the lina-poke38 package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, which analyzes your package-lock.json file for potential threats.
Conclusion
The lina-poke38 package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant, remove any affected packages, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor their projects for vulnerabilities. Staying informed and proactive can help mitigate the risks associated with such malicious packages.
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FAQ
lina-poke38 is an npm package involved in a token reward campaign that has been identified as containing malicious code.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities and the proliferation of unwanted packages in your project.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
If you have installed lina-poke38, you should uninstall it immediately using 'npm uninstall lina-poke38' and review your project for any other potentially harmful packages.
Yes, Vulert provides real-time monitoring and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
