Malicious Code Injection in experienced_rhinoceros-apptea: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-102387: Malicious code in experienced_rhinoceros-apptea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'experienced_rhinoceros-apptea' is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign that has infiltrated the npm ecosystem. This package is designed to generate and publish derivative packages automatically, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. Its functionality is compromised due to the presence of malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the inclusion of malicious scripts within the 'experienced_rhinoceros-apptea' package. These scripts are designed to alter the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. 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 security breaches and loss of trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall experienced_rhinoceros-appteaIf 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 'experienced_rhinoceros-apptea' package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may have been affected by this vulnerability. Regularly check your package-lock.json for any signs of malicious alterations.
Conclusion
The 'experienced_rhinoceros-apptea' package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code that alters package metadata. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the integrity of your software by providing real-time alerts for open-source vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that is part of a token reward campaign, which has been compromised to include malicious code.
The malicious code can alter your package metadata, leading to potential security risks and pollution of the npm registry.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any other affected dependencies in your project.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check your application for vulnerabilities without signing up.
