Malicious Code Injection in saku-aku-iu Package: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-165668: Malicious code in saku-aku-iu (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 saku-aku-iu package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package, like many others, is intended to facilitate the development and deployment of applications by providing reusable code. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that exploits npm's publishing capabilities to inflate developer reputation scores through the creation of derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the saku-aku-iu package stems from its involvement in a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. This allows the package to generate random names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republish these variants to the npm registry. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to manipulate npm's ecosystem for fraudulent gains. The ramifications include potential pollution of the npm registry, loss of developer reputation, and exposure to further malicious activities.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall saku-aku-iuIf 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 avoid using the saku-aku-iu package and any other packages that may be part of the same malicious campaign. To uninstall the package, run the following command in your terminal: npm uninstall saku-aku-iu.
Conclusion
The saku-aku-iu package poses a significant threat to users within the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and repopulates the registry with harmful variants. Immediate action is required to uninstall the package and safeguard your projects from potential risks.
See every vulnerability recorded for saku-aku-iu →
FAQ
The saku-aku-iu package is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to manipulate developer reputation scores.
This vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may expose your project to further malicious activities.
You should uninstall the saku-aku-iu package immediately to mitigate any risks associated with its malicious behavior.
As of now, there is no patched version available. It is recommended to remove the package entirely.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. You can also check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground without any signup.
