Malicious Code Injection in complex_monkey-apptea: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-100773: Malicious code in complex_monkey-apptea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package complex_monkey-apptea is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign that has infiltrated the npm ecosystem. It is designed to manipulate npm packages by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for rewards associated with the tea protocol, making it a significant concern for developers relying on npm for package management.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from malicious code embedded in the complex_monkey-apptea package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of these variants. The result is a polluted npm registry, which can compromise the integrity of other packages and potentially lead to security risks for applications that depend on them.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall complex_monkey-appteaIf 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 monitor your package-lock.json file for any unauthorized changes. If you suspect that your project has been affected, consider using tools like Vulert to check for vulnerabilities. You can access the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner to analyze your application without needing to sign up.
Conclusion
The complex_monkey-apptea package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and pollutes the npm registry. Developers should take immediate action to remove this package and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in their projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for complex_monkey-apptea →
FAQ
complex_monkey-apptea is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to manipulate package publishing on the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising the integrity of other packages your application depends on.
You should uninstall the complex_monkey-apptea package immediately using the command: npm uninstall complex_monkey-apptea.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit https://vulert.com for more information.
There is no patch for the complex_monkey-apptea package as it is recommended to remove it entirely from your project.
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Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
