Malicious Code Injection in rino-poke48: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-164694: Malicious code in rino-poke48 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
rino-poke48 is an npm package that is part of a broader ecosystem of packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing numerous derivative packages with randomized names. The primary functionality of rino-poke48 is to serve as a token reward mechanism, but it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that can affect the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in rino-poke48 originates from its association with malicious scripts that modify the package.json file. These scripts remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry. This not only affects the reputation of developers but also poses a risk of dependency confusion and potential exploitation of users who install these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rino-poke48If 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 remove the rino-poke48 package from your project by executing the command: 'npm uninstall rino-poke48'. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The rino-poke48 package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise the npm ecosystem. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard their applications. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
rino-poke48 is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to manipulate npm registry behavior.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious code, which may compromise your application's integrity and security.
You should uninstall the package immediately and monitor for any updates or patches that address the vulnerability.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
Regularly update your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring, and review package sources before installation.
