Malicious Code Vulnerability in exclusive_peafowl-notthedev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-102352: Malicious code in exclusive_peafowl-notthedev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The exclusive_peafowl-notthedev package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards for developers by publishing derivative packages. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of applications that depend on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from a malicious payload embedded within the exclusive_peafowl-notthedev package. This payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior not only inflates developer reputation scores but also pollutes the npm registry, potentially affecting other packages and applications relying on npm.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall exclusive_peafowl-notthedevIf 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 exclusive_peafowl-notthedev package from your project by executing: npm uninstall exclusive_peafowl-notthedev. This will prevent the malicious code from executing until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The exclusive_peafowl-notthedev package contains a serious vulnerability due to embedded malicious code that alters package metadata and can lead to broader security issues. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert for ongoing monitoring.
See every vulnerability recorded for exclusive_peafowl-notthedev →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities and pollution of the npm registry.
You should immediately update or uninstall the package to prevent any security risks.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using your package-lock.json.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities without needing to sign up.
