Malicious Code Injection in lina-poke8: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-158161: Malicious code in lina-poke8 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
lina-poke8 is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been associated with a series of malicious activities on the npm registry. This package is designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. Its functionality, while seemingly innocuous, is compromised by its underlying malicious intent.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in lina-poke8 stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and altering version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This not only affects the integrity of the npm ecosystem but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall lina-poke8
If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, avoid using the lina-poke8 package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Regularly monitor your package dependencies for any updates or vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The lina-poke8 package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry with compromised packages. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
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FAQ
lina-poke8 is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been linked to malicious activities on the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the lina-poke8 package immediately and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
Yes, tools like Vulert can help monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just the package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.