Malicious Code Vulnerability in detailed_cougar-appteadev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-101368: Malicious code in detailed_cougar-appteadev (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 detailed_cougar-appteadev package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized for various development tasks. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with harmful packages. This package is designed to manipulate its own metadata and publish numerous variants to inflate developer reputation scores, posing significant risks to users and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package being part of a token reward campaign that employs autopublish scripts to generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names. The malicious payload alters the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and creating random package names, which leads to pollution of the npm registry. This can result in developers inadvertently using compromised packages, exposing their applications to security risks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall detailed_cougar-appteadevIf 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 measure, you can avoid using the detailed_cougar-appteadev package and replace it with a verified alternative that serves the same purpose. Always verify the integrity and reputation of packages before including them in your project.
Conclusion
The detailed_cougar-appteadev package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious nature. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and adopt best practices for dependency management to safeguard your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for detailed_cougar-appteadev →
FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the publication of harmful variants.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. By analyzing your package-lock.json file, Vulert can help you identify affected packages.
Using this package can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your application, potentially compromising security and stability.
There is no patch for the detailed_cougar-appteadev package; the recommended action is to uninstall it and replace it with a trusted alternative.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for real-time monitoring, and only include packages from reputable sources.
