Malicious Code Injection in broken_hawk-appteadev: npm Package Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-100130: Malicious code in broken_hawk-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The broken_hawk-appteadev package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily used for application development. 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 manipulate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in broken_hawk-appteadev stems from its malicious payload, 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 not only compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these tainted packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall broken_hawk-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 avoid using the broken_hawk-appteadev package and replace it with a trusted alternative. Always verify the source and integrity of packages before including them in your project.
Conclusion
The broken_hawk-appteadev package presents a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant and remove such packages from their projects to maintain the integrity of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for broken_hawk-appteadev →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, known for flooding the npm registry with malicious packages.
The vulnerability can compromise the integrity of your project by introducing malicious code that modifies your package.json and republishing harmful variants.
You should uninstall the broken_hawk-appteadev package immediately and check your project for any unintended changes.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground.
There is no patch for the broken_hawk-appteadev package as it is recommended to remove it entirely from your project.
