Malicious Code Injection in aesthetic_moth-appteadev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-99229: Malicious code in aesthetic_moth-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The aesthetic_moth-appteadev package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized for various development tasks. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the tea.xyz token reward system. This package, like others in the campaign, contains scripts designed to automatically publish derivative packages with altered names and metadata, leading to potential security risks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the presence of malicious code within the aesthetic_moth-appteadev package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The malicious payload continuously republishes these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of projects that depend on this package. The origin of this issue is linked to a broader campaign that exploits npm's publishing capabilities to manipulate developer reputation and reward systems.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall aesthetic_moth-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 aesthetic_moth-appteadev package from your project to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability. Use the following command: npm uninstall aesthetic_moth-appteadev.
Conclusion
The aesthetic_moth-appteadev package contains malicious code that poses significant risks to projects utilizing it. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or uninstalling the package to safeguard your application. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
See every vulnerability recorded for aesthetic_moth-appteadev →
FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating developer reputation scores.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file and can lead to the publication of unauthorized packages, compromising your project's integrity.
You should update the package to a patched version or uninstall it to avoid potential security risks.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. Visit Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected.
Regularly update your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring, and review package sources before installation to minimize risks.
