Malicious Code Injection in brief_firefly-smiletea Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100099: Malicious code in brief_firefly-smiletea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The brief_firefly-smiletea package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards through various scripts that automatically publish derivative packages. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of applications using it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the presence of malicious scripts within the brief_firefly-smiletea package. These scripts are designed to modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior leads to the automatic generation and publication of numerous derivative packages, which can pollute the npm registry and inflate developer reputation scores fraudulently. The ramifications include potential exposure to malicious code, compromised application integrity, and a polluted npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall brief_firefly-smileteaIf 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 remove the brief_firefly-smiletea package from your project to prevent any malicious activity. Use the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall brief_firefly-smiletea.
Conclusion
The brief_firefly-smiletea package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to applications using it. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your application and maintain the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
See every vulnerability recorded for brief_firefly-smiletea →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to facilitate automatic publishing of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the injection of malicious code, compromising the integrity of your application and potentially exposing it to security risks.
You should immediately update the package to a patched version or uninstall it to mitigate the risk of exposure to malicious code.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. You can check your application for vulnerabilities without any signup at the Vulert playground.
Regularly update your dependencies, monitor them for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, and review the security advisories for the packages you use.
