Malicious Code Injection in madan-poke33: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-158971: Malicious code in madan-poke33 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package madan-poke33 is part of a series of malicious npm packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. The malicious nature of madan-poke33 lies in its ability to modify the package.json file, removing private flags and altering version numbers, which can lead to further exploitation and pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in madan-poke33 originates from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that floods the npm ecosystem with harmful packages. The payload modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, changes version numbers, and generates random package names, which can lead to the proliferation of untrusted packages in the npm registry. This not only compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these packages in their projects.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall madan-poke33If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using madan-poke33 and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz campaign. Regularly audit your package dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and remove any malicious packages.
Conclusion
The madan-poke33 package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code that modifies package.json files and proliferates untrusted packages. It is crucial for developers to remain vigilant, regularly audit their dependencies, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
Madan-poke33 is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of harmful packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of untrusted packages in your project, potentially compromising the security and integrity of your application.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command npm uninstall madan-poke33 and audit your project for any other malicious dependencies.
You can use tools like npm audit or services like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
