Malicious Code Injection in ocha-tahu19-ruro: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-106543: Malicious code in ocha-tahu19-ruro (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
ocha-tahu19-ruro is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the distribution of token rewards through various npm packages. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise the integrity of the npm registry by generating and publishing derivative packages with altered metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the ocha-tahu19-ruro package, which is designed to automatically modify its own package.json file to remove private flags, change version numbers, and create random package names. This behavior leads to the pollution of the npm registry, making it difficult for developers to trust the authenticity of packages. The malicious payload can inflate developer reputation scores fraudulently, posing a significant risk to the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ocha-tahu19-ruroIf 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 prevent the installation of the ocha-tahu19-ruro package by using the following command: npm uninstall ocha-tahu19-ruro. Additionally, you can monitor your package dependencies using tools like Vulert, which can alert you to vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
Conclusion
The ocha-tahu19-ruro package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and pollutes the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert for ongoing monitoring of vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
ocha-tahu19-ruro is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been identified as containing malicious code.
The malicious code modifies package metadata, potentially leading to the pollution of the npm registry and making it difficult to trust other packages.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
If no patched version is available, it is advisable to remove the ocha-tahu19-ruro package from your project to mitigate the risk.
Vulert is a useful tool that monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
