Malicious Code Injection in tealove-coki9: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-168213: Malicious code in tealove-coki9 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package tealove-coki9 is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm ecosystem with malicious packages. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. The presence of such packages poses a significant risk to developers and users alike, as they can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and potential exploitation of unsuspecting users.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in tealove-coki9 originates from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which are often themed around Indonesian culture. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also allows the package to continuously republish variants, making it difficult for users to identify and remove the threat. The ramifications include potential security breaches, loss of developer reputation, and the proliferation of malicious software.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall tealove-coki9If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the tealove-coki9 package and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your dependencies to ensure that no malicious packages are included in your project.
Conclusion
The tealove-coki9 package poses a significant threat to npm users due to its malicious behavior aimed at manipulating the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor your dependencies for any similar threats. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help you stay informed about vulnerabilities in your open-source software.
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FAQ
Tealove-coki9 is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potential security breaches, and the risk of unintentional use of malicious software in your project.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command npm uninstall tealove-coki9 and check your package-lock.json for any remaining references.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
