Malicious Code Injection in nokire-kore13: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-162699: Malicious code in nokire-kore13 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The package 'nokire-kore13' is part of a series of npm packages that have been 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 risks to developers and users relying on these packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'nokire-kore13' stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This manipulation allows the package to continuously republish variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of applications that depend on these packages. The origin of this issue is linked to automated scripts designed to exploit the npm ecosystem for token rewards.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall nokire-kore13If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can prevent the installation of 'nokire-kore13' by adding it to your project's .npmrc file with the following entry: 'package-lock=false'. This will stop npm from installing this package until a permanent fix is applied.
Conclusion
The 'nokire-kore13' package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. It is essential for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for nokire-kore13 →
FAQ
'nokire-kore13' is an npm package associated with a malicious campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious code that modifies your application's dependencies, potentially compromising its security and functionality.
You should immediately remove 'nokire-kore13' from your project and check for any unauthorized changes in your package.json file.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can also check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground.
Regularly update your dependencies, use trusted packages, and employ vulnerability scanning tools to identify and mitigate risks.
