Malicious Code Injection in nokire-kore12: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-162698: Malicious code in nokire-kore12 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'nokire-kore12' is part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm ecosystem, specifically designed to exploit developers' reputation systems. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which aims to inflate developer scores by flooding the npm registry with derivative packages. The package's functionality includes generating and publishing random package names, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'nokire-kore12' arises from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly install these malicious packages, potentially leading to further exploitation or data breaches.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall nokire-kore12If 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-kore12' and any packages that depend on it. Ensure that your package-lock.json file does not include this package. You can also use the following command to remove it: npm uninstall nokire-kore12.
Conclusion
The 'nokire-kore12' package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior aimed at inflating developer reputation scores. It is essential to take immediate action to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for any potential vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for nokire-kore12 →
FAQ
'nokire-kore12' is an npm package involved in a malicious campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores by flooding the npm registry with derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious code, which may compromise your project's security and integrity, potentially leading to data breaches or further exploitation.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. By checking your package-lock.json file, you can identify if your application is affected by this vulnerability.
Immediately uninstall the package using 'npm uninstall nokire-kore12' and audit your dependencies to ensure no other malicious packages are present.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities, and stay informed about the latest security advisories in the open-source community.
