Malicious Code Injection in maya-empal3-breki: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-74385: Malicious code in maya-empal3-breki (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'maya-empal3-breki' is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign that has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing of derivative packages, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'maya-empal3-breki' originates from its malicious design, which includes scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior allows the package to continuously republish variants, thereby polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of other packages. The malicious payload can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and disrupt the normal functioning of applications relying on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall maya-empal3-brekiIf 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 'maya-empal3-breki' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Regularly monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, which can alert you to open-source vulnerabilities in your software.
Conclusion
The 'maya-empal3-breki' package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant about their dependencies and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities. Taking immediate action to remove this package and regularly checking for updates can help maintain the security of your applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, designed to manipulate the npm registry and inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications in your application's dependencies, potentially compromising its security and functionality.
Immediately uninstall the 'maya-empal3-breki' package and review your project's dependencies for any other potentially malicious packages.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without needing to access the code.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
