Malicious Code Injection in equal_basilisk-appteadev Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-102151: Malicious code in equal_basilisk-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The equal_basilisk-appteadev 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, which can inflate developer reputation scores. However, it has been identified as containing malicious scripts that compromise the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry, potentially affecting other developers and users relying on the integrity of the npm ecosystem. The malicious scripts are typically named auto.js, autopublish.js, autopublish2.js, and autopublish3.js.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall equal_basilisk-appteadevIf 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 avoid using the equal_basilisk-appteadev package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The equal_basilisk-appteadev package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and pollutes the npm registry. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your projects for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of your software.
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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 packages.
The malicious code can compromise your project's integrity by modifying package configurations and republishing harmful variants.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall equal_basilisk-appteadev' and check for any other affected packages.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities without needing to sign up.
