Malicious Code Injection in rinto-poke3: npm Package Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-164800: Malicious code in rinto-poke3 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The rinto-poke3 package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. The vulnerability stems from the package's design, which allows for the modification of critical files, leading to potential exploitation.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in rinto-poke3 originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been flooding the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages contain scripts that automatically modify the package.json file, removing private flags and altering version numbers. This behavior can lead to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of other packages. The malicious payload is designed to generate random package names, making it difficult to track and mitigate.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rinto-poke3If 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 rinto-poke3 package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The rinto-poke3 package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any related vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of your applications.
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FAQ
rinto-poke3 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the modification of your project's package.json file, potentially compromising the integrity of your application and introducing security risks.
You should uninstall the rinto-poke3 package immediately and monitor your project for any unusual behavior.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. You can check your application using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Vulert is a tool that uses package-lock.json to monitor and alert in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software, helping you maintain secure applications.
