Malicious Code Exploit in nokire-nakala25: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-162977: Malicious code in nokire-nakala25 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'nokire-nakala25' 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 security risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'nokire-nakala25' stems 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 can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, making it difficult for developers to find legitimate packages and potentially exposing them to further security risks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall nokire-nakala25If 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-nakala25' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The 'nokire-nakala25' package represents a significant threat within the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior aimed at inflating developer reputation scores. It is essential for developers to remain vigilant, regularly audit their dependencies, and utilize tools like Vulert to safeguard their projects from such vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
'nokire-nakala25' is a malicious npm package that is part of a campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
Using 'nokire-nakala25' can lead to security risks, including exposure to malicious code and the pollution of the npm registry, making it harder to find legitimate packages.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall nokire-nakala25' and check your project for any other malicious packages.
Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like Vulert, which can monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
