Malicious Code Injection in rinto-poke48: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-164820: Malicious code in rinto-poke48 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
rinto-poke48 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm registry. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which has been known to flood the npm ecosystem with harmful packages. The primary function of rinto-poke48 is to serve as a tool for developers, but its malicious nature compromises its integrity and poses significant risks to users.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in rinto-poke48 arises from the presence of malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the automatic publication of derivative packages. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to a broader scheme aimed at inflating developer reputation scores for token rewards, which can result in pollution of the npm registry and potential exploitation of unsuspecting developers.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rinto-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 avoid using rinto-poke48 and instead look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Always verify the integrity of packages before installation.
Conclusion
The rinto-poke48 package poses a significant threat to npm users due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your projects for vulnerabilities to maintain security.
See every vulnerability recorded for rinto-poke48 →
FAQ
rinto-poke48 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the publication of harmful packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to the automatic publication of unauthorized derivative packages and compromising your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the rinto-poke48 package immediately using the command npm uninstall rinto-poke48 and look for alternative packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
Yes, you should look for well-reviewed and trusted packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Always check the package's reputation and reviews before installation.
