Malicious Code Injection in centaurus-websockets-enceladus-semantic-release Package
Summary
MAL-2025-140558: Malicious code in centaurus-websockets-enceladus-semantic-release (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The centaurus-websockets-enceladus-semantic-release package is part of the npm ecosystem, designed to facilitate WebSocket communication in JavaScript applications. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that exploits npm's package management system. This package, like others in the campaign, is engineered to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages with randomized names.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package being part of a broader malicious campaign associated with the tea.xyz token reward initiative. It contains scripts that modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can compromise the integrity of projects relying on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall centaurus-websockets-enceladus-semantic-releaseIf 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 this package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your package dependencies for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The centaurus-websockets-enceladus-semantic-release package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise your project's integrity. It is essential to uninstall this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
See every vulnerability recorded for centaurus-websockets-enceladus-semantic-release →
FAQ
It is an npm package designed for WebSocket communication but has been identified as part of a malicious campaign.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and compromise the integrity of your project by introducing malicious code.
You should uninstall the package immediately and look for alternatives or wait for a patched version if available.
You can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
