Malicious Code Injection in cvrtkr-devapptea: npm Package Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-101181: Malicious code in cvrtkr-devapptea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The cvrtkr-devapptea package is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with various packages. These packages are designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This behavior poses significant risks to developers and users relying on the integrity of npm packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in cvrtkr-devapptea originates from its design to include malicious scripts that modify the package.json file. Specifically, it removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This not only pollutes the npm registry but also compromises the security and reliability of the packages within the ecosystem, potentially allowing for further exploitation.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall cvrtkr-devappteaIf 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 remove the cvrtkr-devapptea package from your project by executing: npm uninstall cvrtkr-devapptea. This will prevent any malicious code from executing while you seek a secure alternative.
Conclusion
The cvrtkr-devapptea package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is essential for developers to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
cvrtkr-devapptea is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been identified to contain malicious code.
The vulnerability can lead to the modification of your package.json file, potentially compromising your project's integrity and security.
If you have installed cvrtkr-devapptea, it is recommended to uninstall it immediately and check for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
