Malicious Code Injection in rival-poke72: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-165058: Malicious code in rival-poke72 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'rival-poke72' is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. The malicious nature of these packages lies in their ability to alter the package.json file, thereby compromising the integrity of the affected projects.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'rival-poke72' originates from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with fake packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and creating random package names. This behavior not only inflates developer reputation scores for token rewards but also pollutes the npm registry, leading to potential security risks for developers who unknowingly incorporate these packages into their projects.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rival-poke72If 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 the 'rival-poke72' package and instead look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Always verify the integrity and reputation of packages before including them in your project.
Conclusion
The 'rival-poke72' package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. It is essential for developers to remain vigilant, regularly audit their dependencies, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
'rival-poke72' is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating the npm registry.
Incorporating 'rival-poke72' can lead to the alteration of your package.json file, potentially compromising your project's integrity and security.
You should uninstall 'rival-poke72' immediately using the command 'npm uninstall rival-poke72' and check for any other malicious packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json 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.
