Malicious Code Injection in compact_hawk-strongdev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100731: Malicious code in compact_hawk-strongdev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The compact_hawk-strongdev package is an npm module that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate certain functionalities within the npm ecosystem, but it has been compromised to include malicious code. This package is known for its ability to automatically generate and publish derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, its malicious nature poses significant risks to users and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the compact_hawk-strongdev package originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It contains scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, change version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the security of applications that depend on this package. The malicious payload can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and a loss of trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall compact_hawk-strongdevIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the compact_hawk-strongdev package altogether. If you must use it, ensure that you monitor your package-lock.json file for any changes and consider using a tool like Vulert to track vulnerabilities in real-time. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The compact_hawk-strongdev package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise the security of applications using it. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help you stay informed about potential threats in your npm packages.
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FAQ
The compact_hawk-strongdev package is an npm module associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to facilitate certain functionalities but has been compromised with malicious code.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications of your package.json file, potentially compromising your application's security and integrity.
You should uninstall the compact_hawk-strongdev package immediately and check for any dependencies that may have been affected.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring access to your code.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
