Malicious Code Vulnerability in suharta-poke22: Exploitation of npm Registry
Summary
MAL-2025-166149: Malicious code in suharta-poke22 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The suharta-poke22 package is part of a series of malicious packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by creating numerous derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, making it a significant concern for developers relying on npm for package management.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in suharta-poke22 stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that utilizes autopublish scripts to generate and publish numerous derivative packages. These scripts modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and creating random package names. This not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk of dependency confusion and potential exploitation by malicious actors, leading to compromised applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall suharta-poke22If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can monitor your project for any unintended dependencies that may have been introduced by suharta-poke22. Regularly audit your npm packages using the command: npm audit to identify and address any vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The suharta-poke22 package poses a significant risk due to its malicious nature and the potential for dependency confusion. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in their applications. Regular audits and vigilance are essential to maintaining the security of your software.
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FAQ
suharta-poke22 is a malicious npm package that is part of a campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the creation of numerous derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to dependency confusion, allowing malicious actors to exploit your application by introducing compromised packages.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command npm uninstall suharta-poke22 and check your package-lock.json for any references to it.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. It requires only the package-lock.json file for real-time alerts.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
