Malicious Code Injection in ucok-poke53: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-169675: Malicious code in ucok-poke53 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
ucok-poke53 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at exploiting the npm registry. This package is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. The malicious nature of this package stems from its ability to alter package metadata and continuously republish variants, thereby polluting the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in ucok-poke53 originates from its inclusion in a broader malicious campaign targeting npm. It contains scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, change version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly install these malicious 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-poke53If 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 ucok-poke53 package and any other packages that may be part of the malicious campaign. Regularly audit your package-lock.json file for any suspicious entries and remove any packages that you do not recognize or trust.
Conclusion
The ucok-poke53 package poses a significant threat to npm users due to its malicious behavior aimed at manipulating the npm registry. It is crucial to take immediate action to remove this package and implement best practices for dependency management to safeguard your applications.
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FAQ
ucok-poke53 is an npm package identified as part of a malicious campaign that manipulates the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious code, compromising the security and integrity of your application.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command npm uninstall ucok-poke53 and audit your dependencies.
Regularly update your packages, audit your dependencies, and use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
