Malicious Code Injection in ucok-poke56: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-169678: Malicious code in ucok-poke56 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
ucok-poke56 is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm registry. This package is designed to manipulate the npm ecosystem by generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. Its primary function is to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards associated with the tea protocol, making it a significant concern for developers relying on npm for package management.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in ucok-poke56 stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of projects that depend on these packages. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which exploits npm's publishing mechanisms for malicious purposes.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ucok-poke56If 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 ucok-poke56 package and replace it with a known, secure alternative. Always verify the integrity of packages before including them in your project.
Conclusion
The ucok-poke56 package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior of modifying package files and republishing variants. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant, remove any affected packages, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor their projects for vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
ucok-poke56 is an npm package identified as part of a malicious campaign that manipulates the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising the integrity of your project and its dependencies.
You should uninstall the package immediately using npm uninstall ucok-poke56 and review your project's dependencies for any other malicious packages.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Yes, tools like Vulert can help you monitor your project for vulnerabilities in real-time, ensuring that you are alerted to any potential threats.
