Malicious Code Injection in developed_tern-smiletea Package
Summary
MAL-2025-101389: Malicious code in developed_tern-smiletea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The developed_tern-smiletea package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, its functionality has been compromised, leading to significant security concerns.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from malicious code embedded within the developed_tern-smiletea package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which allows for the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to further exploitation.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall developed_tern-smileteaIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, avoid using the developed_tern-smiletea package and monitor your dependencies for any signs of malicious activity. You can also utilize tools like Vulert to check for vulnerabilities in your package-lock.json file without needing to install any software.
Conclusion
The developed_tern-smiletea package poses a significant security risk due to its embedded malicious code, which alters package configurations and pollutes the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages.
The package contains scripts that modify package.json files, remove private flags, and continuously republish variants to pollute the npm registry.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check your application for vulnerabilities without needing to sign up.
You should uninstall the developed_tern-smiletea package immediately using 'npm uninstall developed_tern-smiletea' and monitor your project for any unusual behavior.
Yes, Vulert provides real-time monitoring and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
