Malicious Code Injection in suharta-poke4: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-166168: Malicious code in suharta-poke4 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package suharta-poke4 is part of a series of 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 suharta-poke4 lies in its ability to modify package.json files, remove private flags, and republish variants, thereby polluting the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in suharta-poke4 originates from its malicious payload, which alters 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. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these packages, as they can lead to reputation inflation and clutter in the npm registry, making it difficult to find legitimate packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall suharta-poke4If 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 suharta-poke4 package and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your package dependencies to ensure no malicious packages are included.
Conclusion
The suharta-poke4 package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious code that modifies package.json files and repopulates the npm registry with harmful variants. It is essential for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for similar vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for suharta-poke4 →
FAQ
suharta-poke4 is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores by generating and publishing derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to security risks, including the introduction of malicious code and cluttering of the npm registry, making it harder to find legitimate packages.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. You can check your application using the Vulert playground without any signup.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command: npm uninstall suharta-poke4, and check for any other affected packages.
Yes, Vulert provides real-time monitoring for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file, ensuring you stay informed about potential threats.
