Malicious Code Injection in nokire-kore43: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-162732: Malicious code in nokire-kore43 (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-kore43' is part of a series of malicious packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by creating and publishing numerous derivative packages with randomized names. The primary function of these packages is to inflate developer reputation scores for rewards associated with the tea protocol, making them a significant threat to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'nokire-kore43' stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising other packages. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the broader malicious activity surrounding the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which exploits npm's publishing mechanisms.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall nokire-kore43If 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 remove the 'nokire-kore43' package from your project by executing the following command: 'npm uninstall nokire-kore43'. This will prevent the execution of any malicious code associated with the package until a proper fix is implemented.
Conclusion
The 'nokire-kore43' package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the registry. It is essential to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in your projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for nokire-kore43 →
FAQ
'nokire-kore43' is a malicious npm package that is part of a campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the creation of numerous derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising your project's dependencies and exposing it to further security risks.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. By uploading your package-lock.json file, you can check for vulnerabilities without needing to install any software.
Regularly audit your dependencies and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time, ensuring that you are alerted to any issues as they arise.
If you identify other malicious packages, remove them immediately from your project and replace them with trusted alternatives. Regularly updating your dependencies is also crucial.
