Malicious Code Injection in combined_possum_teal-90: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-100703: Malicious code in combined_possum_teal-90 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package combined_possum_teal-90 is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. Its primary functionality is to facilitate token rewards, but it has been compromised to include harmful scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in combined_possum_teal-90 stems from malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is designed to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. The malicious payload continuously republishes these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially leading to security risks for users who unknowingly install these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall combined_possum_teal-90If 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 combined_possum_teal-90 package altogether. If you have already installed it, remove it from your project using the command: npm uninstall combined_possum_teal-90.
Conclusion
The combined_possum_teal-90 package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry with compromised variants. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain security.
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FAQ
combined_possum_teal-90 is an npm package that has been compromised to include malicious code aimed at manipulating package metadata and inflating developer reputation scores.
If you have this package installed, it may lead to the installation of additional malicious packages, compromising the security of your project and potentially exposing sensitive data.
You should immediately uninstall the combined_possum_teal-90 package and monitor your project for any other potentially compromised packages.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without needing to sign up.
Regularly update your packages, monitor for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, and review the npm registry for any security advisories related to the packages you use.
