Malicious Code Vulnerability in adjacent_kite-appteadev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-99180: Malicious code in adjacent_kite-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The adjacent_kite-appteadev package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily used for development purposes. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing of derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious code, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to security risks, including the potential for developers to unknowingly use compromised packages, which may contain harmful code.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall adjacent_kite-appteadevIf 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 remove the adjacent_kite-appteadev package from your project until a secure version is released. Use the following command to uninstall it: npm uninstall adjacent_kite-appteadev.
Conclusion
The adjacent_kite-appteadev package contains malicious code that poses significant security risks. It is crucial for developers to update or remove this package to protect their applications. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring and identifying vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
The malicious code modifies package.json files and publishes derivative packages to inflate reputation scores.
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Using this package can lead to security vulnerabilities, including the risk of integrating harmful code into your application.
Regularly monitor your dependencies and use tools like Vulert to alert you of open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
If an immediate update is not possible, consider removing the package or isolating its use until a secure version is available.
