Malicious Code Injection in rival-poke12: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-164992: Malicious code in rival-poke12 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
rival-poke12 is an npm package that has been implicated in a malicious campaign targeting the npm registry. This package is part of a broader initiative that aims to exploit the npm ecosystem by flooding it with derivative packages. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts, which can lead to significant issues within the registry and for developers relying on these packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in rival-poke12 originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. The package contains malicious scripts that modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches and loss of trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rival-poke12If 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 rival-poke12 and any other packages that may be associated with the tea.xyz campaign. Regularly audit your package-lock.json file to identify and remove any suspicious packages.
Conclusion
The rival-poke12 package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior. It is essential for developers to remain vigilant, regularly audit their dependencies, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities. By taking proactive measures, you can protect your projects from potential security risks.
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FAQ
rival-poke12 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to exploit the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your project, potentially compromising security and functionality.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall rival-poke12' and audit your dependencies for any other suspicious packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
