Malicious Code Injection in animatecss-tailwind-plugin: A Critical Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2026-18072: Malicious code in animatecss-tailwind-plugin (npm). Affects animatecss-tailwind-plugin versions 2.0.6. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
animatecss-tailwind-plugin is a Tailwind CSS plugin designed to integrate Animate.css animations into Tailwind projects. It allows developers to easily apply animations to their web applications using Tailwind's utility-first approach. However, this package has been compromised, leading to significant security concerns due to the inclusion of malicious code.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the animatecss-tailwind-plugin version 2.0.6, which is linked to a malicious campaign. It requires a private scoped package, @aaron205whitmore/postcss-animate-utils, that is not publicly accessible. This package is designed to execute malicious code when the Tailwind configuration file (tailwind.config.js) is loaded. The malicious code is embedded in a private dependency that is not retrieved during normal installation, but it can still pose a risk when the development server starts, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data breaches.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall animatecss-tailwind-pluginIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the animatecss-tailwind-plugin until a secure version is released. Alternatively, consider using other animation libraries that do not have known vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The animatecss-tailwind-plugin has been identified as a compromised package with a serious vulnerability that can lead to malicious code execution. It is crucial for developers to update to a patched version or seek alternatives until a fix is available. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring and managing vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
It is a Tailwind CSS plugin that integrates Animate.css animations into Tailwind projects, allowing for easy application of animations.
The vulnerability can lead to the execution of malicious code, potentially compromising your project's security and exposing sensitive data.
Check the official repository for the animatecss-tailwind-plugin to see if a patched version has been released.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
