Malicious Code Injection in rinto-poke43: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-164815: Malicious code in rinto-poke43 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
rinto-poke43 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm registry. This package is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through the creation and publication of derivative packages. Its functionality is compromised by the presence of malicious scripts that alter package metadata and publish numerous variants, leading to pollution of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in rinto-poke43 stems from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which employs scripts to automatically generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names. This malicious behavior modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and continuously republishes variants, potentially leading to a polluted npm registry and undermining the integrity of the ecosystem. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the exploitation of npm's publishing capabilities, allowing for the proliferation of harmful packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rinto-poke43If 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 rinto-poke43 package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may inadvertently include it. Regularly audit your package-lock.json file to identify and remove any malicious packages.
Conclusion
The rinto-poke43 package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm's publishing system. Users are advised to uninstall the package and monitor their projects for any dependencies that may include it. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your open-source projects.
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FAQ
rinto-poke43 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the creation of numerous derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially introducing malicious code into your project and compromising its security.
You should uninstall the package immediately using npm uninstall rinto-poke43 and check for any dependencies that may rely on it.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. You can also check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
Currently, there is no patched version available. The best course of action is to remove the package and monitor for any updates.
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Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
