Malicious Code Injection in mahnud-magu-nai: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-159036: Malicious code in mahnud-magu-nai (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'mahnud-magu-nai' is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during 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. This behavior not only clutters the npm registry but also poses a significant risk to users who may unknowingly install these malicious packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'mahnud-magu-nai' stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants. This behavior can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, making it difficult for developers to find legitimate packages and potentially exposing them to further security risks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall mahnud-magu-naiIf 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 the 'mahnud-magu-nai' package by removing it from your dependencies. Use the following command to uninstall it: npm uninstall mahnud-magu-nai.
Conclusion
The 'mahnud-magu-nai' package poses a serious threat due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. Users should take immediate action to remove or update the package to safeguard their projects. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring for such vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
The main issue is that it contains malicious code that modifies package.json files and floods the npm registry with derivative packages.
You can use Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Check your application against this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
If you have installed mahnud-magu-nai, it is recommended to uninstall it immediately and check for any updates or patches.
Yes, packages from the tea.xyz campaign are known to contain malicious scripts that can compromise your project and inflate developer reputation scores fraudulently.
Vulert uses your package-lock.json file to monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities, ensuring your software remains secure.
