Malicious Code Detected in cindy-botok94-ruro: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-100454: Malicious code in cindy-botok94-ruro (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package cindy-botok94-ruro is part of a series of malicious npm packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing numerous derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, posing a significant risk to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the presence of malicious code within the cindy-botok94-ruro package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and creates random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of these variants. The result is a polluted npm registry, which can mislead developers and users, potentially leading to the installation of compromised packages. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which exploits npm's publishing mechanisms.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall cindy-botok94-ruroIf 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 prevent the installation of this malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. Ensure that your project does not include cindy-botok94-ruro in its dependencies. You can also use tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities without needing to access the code directly.
Conclusion
The cindy-botok94-ruro package poses a significant threat to npm users due to its malicious behavior aimed at manipulating the npm registry. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the security and integrity of your projects.
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FAQ
cindy-botok94-ruro is an npm package identified as malicious, part of a campaign that aims to manipulate the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of compromised packages, which may introduce security risks or instability in your project.
You should uninstall the package immediately and monitor your project for any other potential vulnerabilities.
You can use tools like Vulert, which allows you to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
