Malicious Code Injection in rival-poke68: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-165053: Malicious code in rival-poke68 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'rival-poke68' is part of a series of malicious npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to modify critical files and republish variants, thus polluting the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'rival-poke68' stems from its malicious payload, which alters the package.json file by removing private flags and changing 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, leading to potential security breaches and reputation damage.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rival-poke68If 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 prevent the installation of this malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. Ensure that your project does not include 'rival-poke68' in its dependencies. You can also utilize tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The 'rival-poke68' package represents a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior of modifying package files and republishing variants. It is essential for developers to be vigilant and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor their projects for vulnerabilities. Immediate action should be taken to remove this package from any affected projects.
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FAQ
'rival-poke68' is a malicious npm package that is part of a campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the modification of your project's package.json file, potentially exposing your project to further security risks and affecting its integrity.
You should immediately uninstall 'rival-poke68' from your project using the command: npm uninstall rival-poke68.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert to monitor your package dependencies for vulnerabilities in real-time, ensuring that you are alerted to any potential threats.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
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Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
