Malicious Code Injection in deliberate_sheep-biggestdev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-101296: Malicious code in deliberate_sheep-biggestdev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The deliberate_sheep-biggestdev package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily used for JavaScript development. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been linked to various malicious activities. This package is designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names, making it susceptible to exploitation.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to significant security risks, including the potential for unauthorized access to sensitive data and the compromise of development environments.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall deliberate_sheep-biggestdevIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can avoid using the deliberate_sheep-biggestdev package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The deliberate_sheep-biggestdev package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that modifies package configurations and repopulates the npm registry with harmful variants. Immediate action is required to mitigate these risks by uninstalling the package and monitoring for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
See every vulnerability recorded for deliberate_sheep-biggestdev →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications in your package.json file and the potential compromise of your development environment.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities without any signup.
