Malicious Code Injection in rita-27: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-164897: Malicious code in rita-27 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The rita-27 package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. It aims to inflate developer reputation scores by creating numerous variants of itself with randomized names, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in rita-27 arises from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and altering version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these tainted packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rita-27If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the rita-27 package until a patched version is released. Additionally, consider using the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall rita-27.
Conclusion
The rita-27 package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry with derivative packages. It is crucial for developers to remain vigilant, update their packages regularly, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for rita-27 →
FAQ
Rita-27 is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
If you have installed rita-27, it is recommended to uninstall the package immediately and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
