Malicious Code Injection in test-skill-korea Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-91010: Malicious code in test-skill-korea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The test-skill-korea package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized for various development tasks. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit npm's package publishing system. This package is linked to the tea.xyz token reward scheme, which has been flooding the npm registry with harmful packages designed to manipulate developer reputation scores.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from malicious code embedded within the test-skill-korea package. This code is designed to modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The malicious payload continuously republishes these variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry and potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these packages. The origin of this issue is tied to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which employs autopublish scripts to automate the creation of these harmful packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall test-skill-koreaIf 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 test-skill-korea package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, regularly audit your package dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The test-skill-korea package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm's package publishing system. It is essential for developers to remove this package from their projects and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in maintaining the security of your applications.
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FAQ
The test-skill-korea package is an npm package that has been linked to a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating developer reputation scores through the creation of harmful derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and continuously republishes variants, which can lead to security vulnerabilities and pollution of the npm registry.
If you have installed the test-skill-korea package, it is crucial to remove it from your project immediately and monitor your dependencies for any other vulnerabilities.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can also check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Yes, you should look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Always verify the credibility of packages before installation.
