Malicious Code Injection in experienced_reindeer-smiletea Package
Summary
MAL-2025-102386: Malicious code in experienced_reindeer-smiletea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The experienced_reindeer-smiletea package is part of a broader campaign associated with the tea.xyz token reward system, which has been known to flood the npm registry with various packages. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards for developers by generating and publishing derivative packages. However, it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that alter package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the inclusion of malicious code within the experienced_reindeer-smiletea package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the automatic publication of numerous variants. This behavior can pollute the npm registry, potentially affecting other developers and projects that rely on the integrity of the npm ecosystem. The origin of this issue is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which incentivizes the creation of such malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall experienced_reindeer-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, you can avoid using the experienced_reindeer-smiletea package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The experienced_reindeer-smiletea package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise the integrity of your npm projects. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your applications for any vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help you stay informed about potential threats.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been compromised to include malicious code.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and creates numerous derivative packages, potentially polluting the npm registry.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Check your application using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
You should uninstall the experienced_reindeer-smiletea package immediately and monitor your project for any unusual behavior.
Yes, consider researching other npm packages that offer similar functionalities without the associated risks.
