Malicious Code Injection in nokire-akaza53: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-162267: Malicious code in nokire-akaza53 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'nokire-akaza53' is part of a broader campaign that exploits the npm ecosystem for token rewards. It is designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages with randomized names, aiming to inflate developer reputation scores for the tea protocol token rewards. This package, like others in its category, poses significant risks to developers and users by polluting the npm registry with malicious variants.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'nokire-akaza53' originates 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 not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also exposes developers to potential security risks, as these malicious packages can be inadvertently used in projects, leading to further exploitation.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall nokire-akaza53If 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 'nokire-akaza53' and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your package.json and package-lock.json files to identify and remove any suspicious packages.
Conclusion
The 'nokire-akaza53' package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior aimed at inflating developer reputation scores. It is essential for developers to be vigilant, regularly audit their dependencies, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities. Immediate action should be taken to remove any affected packages to safeguard your projects.
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FAQ
'nokire-akaza53' is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through automated package publication.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should immediately remove the package from your project and check for any other potentially malicious packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
