Malicious Code Injection in ucok-poke48: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-169669: Malicious code in ucok-poke48 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
ucok-poke48 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm registry. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to modify its own metadata and republish itself under various names, thereby polluting the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in ucok-poke48 stems from its malicious payload, which alters the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly install these tainted packages, leading to potential security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ucok-poke48If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, avoid using the ucok-poke48 package and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Monitor your project's dependencies closely and consider using tools like Vulert to scan your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The ucok-poke48 package represents a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior of modifying package metadata and republishing itself. Developers must take immediate action to remove this package and implement best practices for dependency management to safeguard their projects.
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FAQ
ucok-poke48 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious code that modifies your project's dependencies, potentially compromising security and functionality.
You should immediately uninstall the package using 'npm uninstall ucok-poke48' and check your project for any other affected dependencies.
Regularly audit your project's dependencies, keep them updated, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Vulert is a tool that monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file. You can check if your application is affected by vulnerabilities without needing to install anything.
