Malicious Code Injection in vina-empal53-remi Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-110522: Malicious code in vina-empal53-remi (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The vina-empal53-remi package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages often contain scripts that manipulate package metadata and publish derivative packages to inflate developer reputation scores.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the vina-empal53-remi package stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. It generates random package names and continuously republishes variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This can result in security risks for developers who unknowingly incorporate these packages into their projects, potentially compromising their applications and reputations.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall vina-empal53-remiIf 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 vina-empal53-remi package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can use the following command to audit your npm packages for vulnerabilities: 'npm audit'.
Conclusion
The vina-empal53-remi package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and repackages itself. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain security and integrity.
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FAQ
The vina-empal53-remi package is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating developer reputation scores through the publication of derivative packages.
Incorporating the vina-empal53-remi package can lead to security risks, including the potential for malicious code execution and pollution of the npm registry.
You should uninstall the vina-empal53-remi package immediately and audit your project for any other potentially vulnerable packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file. You can also check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
Regularly auditing your dependencies and using tools like Vulert can help you stay informed about vulnerabilities and take proactive measures to secure your projects.
