Malicious Code Vulnerability in changing_gerbil-appteadev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100322: Malicious code in changing_gerbil-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The changing_gerbil-appteadev package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of applications that depend on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious payload embedded within the changing_gerbil-appteadev package. It modifies 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 potentially affect other packages and applications relying on npm. The malicious scripts (auto.js, autopublish.js, etc.) are designed to automate these processes, making it difficult for developers to detect and mitigate the issue.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall changing_gerbil-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 changing_gerbil-appteadev package altogether. If your project requires similar functionality, consider looking for alternative packages that do not have known vulnerabilities. Additionally, you can monitor your package dependencies using tools like Vulert, which can alert you to open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The changing_gerbil-appteadev package contains a serious vulnerability due to malicious code that alters package configurations and repopulates the npm registry with compromised variants. It is crucial for developers to uninstall this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to maintain application security.
See every vulnerability recorded for changing_gerbil-appteadev →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages.
The malicious code can compromise your application's integrity by modifying package configurations and republishing variants, potentially leading to security risks.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any updates or patches from the maintainers.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
