Malicious Code Vulnerability in ruji-42 Package
Summary
MAL-2025-165269: Malicious code in ruji-42 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The ruji-42 package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This package is particularly vulnerable due to its inclusion of autopublish scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the ruji-42 package originates from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants. This behavior can pollute the npm registry and compromise the integrity of the ecosystem, potentially affecting other packages and developers relying on npm.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ruji-42If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can prevent the installation of the ruji-42 package by using the following command: npm uninstall ruji-42. Additionally, ensure that your package.json file does not include any references to this package.
Conclusion
The ruji-42 package contains a significant vulnerability that can lead to malicious code being introduced into your project. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to protect your application and the broader npm ecosystem.
See every vulnerability recorded for ruji-42 →
FAQ
The ruji-42 package is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which automates the generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your project by introducing malicious code.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
If you cannot update the package, consider removing it from your project and replacing it with a safer alternative.
