Malicious Code Injection in charming_aardvark-smiletea Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100344: Malicious code in charming_aardvark-smiletea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The charming_aardvark-smiletea package is part of the npm ecosystem, often used in JavaScript applications for various functionalities. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that exploits npm's package management system. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of applications that depend on this package. The malicious scripts included in the package 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 charming_aardvark-smileteaIf 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 charming_aardvark-smiletea package and replace its functionality with a trusted alternative. Always review the packages you include in your project and consider using tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The charming_aardvark-smiletea package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and repopulates the npm registry with potentially harmful variants. It is crucial for developers to remain vigilant, regularly audit their dependencies, and utilize tools like Vulert to safeguard their applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your application by introducing malicious code.
You should uninstall the charming_aardvark-smiletea package immediately and review your project's dependencies for any other potentially malicious packages.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
