Malicious Code Injection in lina-poke44: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-158128: Malicious code in lina-poke44 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package lina-poke44 is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in lina-poke44 stems from its malicious payload, which 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, effectively polluting the npm registry. The origin of this issue is linked to the broader trend of malicious packages flooding the npm ecosystem, often as part of reward schemes that incentivize developers to publish more packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall lina-poke44If 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 prevent the installation of the malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. Ensure that your project does not include lina-poke44 or any of its derivatives. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The discovery of malicious code in the lina-poke44 package highlights the ongoing risks associated with open-source software. It is crucial for developers to remain vigilant, regularly audit their dependencies, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities. By taking proactive measures, developers can help safeguard their projects against such threats.
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FAQ
lina-poke44 is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that has been identified as containing malicious code.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and generates random package names, which can lead to pollution of the npm registry and potential security risks.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall lina-poke44' and check for any other affected packages in your project.
You can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring, and stay updated on security advisories related to the packages you use.
