Malicious Code Injection in pilka-lniu-ka Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-164162: Malicious code in pilka-lniu-ka (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The pilka-lniu-ka package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the pilka-lniu-ka package, which includes scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, change version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other developers by inflating reputation scores fraudulently. The malicious payload poses a risk to the integrity of the npm ecosystem and can lead to the unintentional use of compromised packages by developers.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall pilka-lniu-kaIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, avoid using the pilka-lniu-ka package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may have been affected by this malicious code. Regularly check your package-lock.json file for any unauthorized changes.
Conclusion
The pilka-lniu-ka package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and pollutes the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
See every vulnerability recorded for pilka-lniu-ka →
FAQ
The pilka-lniu-ka package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to the unintentional use of compromised packages and polluting the npm registry.
You should uninstall the pilka-lniu-ka package immediately using the command npm uninstall pilka-lniu-ka.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected, without requiring any signup.
