Malicious Code Injection in characteristic_whitefish-gooddev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100342: Malicious code in characteristic_whitefish-gooddev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The characteristic_whitefish-gooddev package is part of the npm ecosystem, typically used for various development purposes. However, it has been identified as a malicious package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to manipulate npm registry entries, impacting developers' reputations and the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from a malicious payload embedded within the characteristic_whitefish-gooddev package. This payload modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. The primary goal is to inflate developer reputation scores by continuously republishing these variants, which can lead to pollution of the npm registry and potential security risks for users relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall characteristic_whitefish-gooddevIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, avoid using the characteristic_whitefish-gooddev package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may inadvertently include it. Regularly audit your npm packages using tools like npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The characteristic_whitefish-gooddev package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm registry entries. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any dependencies that may include it. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in maintaining the security of your applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, primarily associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your project by introducing unwanted or malicious code.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall characteristic_whitefish-gooddev' and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
Yes, you can use tools like 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.
