Malicious Code Injection in yuni-kue5-apidev: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-92704: Malicious code in yuni-kue5-apidev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
yuni-kue5-apidev is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been associated with malicious activities. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. Its functionality is compromised due to the presence of malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in yuni-kue5-apidev originates from its association with a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload alters the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. This not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk of unintentional dependency inclusion in other projects, leading to potential security breaches and reputation damage for developers.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall yuni-kue5-apidevIf 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 yuni-kue5-apidev package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The yuni-kue5-apidev package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and pollute the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to maintain the integrity and security of your applications.
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FAQ
yuni-kue5-apidev is an npm package involved in a malicious campaign that generates and publishes derivative packages to inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your project, potentially compromising security and affecting the integrity of your application.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall yuni-kue5-apidev' and check for any other affected packages in your project.
You can use 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 at Vulert Scanner.
Yes, consider looking for other npm packages that offer similar functionalities without the associated risks of malicious code.
