Malicious Code Injection in nokire-kilua79: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-162672: Malicious code in nokire-kilua79 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'nokire-kilua79' 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. This behavior not only clutters the npm registry but also poses significant security risks to users who may unknowingly install these compromised packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'nokire-kilua79' 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, effectively polluting the npm registry. This behavior can lead to the installation of untrusted code, potentially compromising the security of applications that rely on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall nokire-kilua79If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can avoid using the 'nokire-kilua79' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can use the following command to audit your npm packages for vulnerabilities: 'npm audit'.
Conclusion
The 'nokire-kilua79' package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package.json files and floods the npm registry with untrusted packages. It is essential for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
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FAQ
The main issue is that it contains malicious code that modifies package.json files and republishes variants to pollute the npm registry.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall nokire-kilua79' and look for alternatives.
While specific alternatives depend on the functionality you need, consider searching for reputable packages on npm that serve similar purposes without the associated risks.
Regularly audit your npm packages using 'npm audit', keep your dependencies updated, and monitor for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
