Malicious Code Injection in fat_swan-silentdev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-102596: Malicious code in fat_swan-silentdev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The fat_swan-silentdev package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. The primary functionality of this package is to serve as a tool for developers, but it has been compromised to include harmful scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the fat_swan-silentdev package stems from its inclusion in a campaign that generates and publishes derivative packages with randomized names. This malicious code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and creating numerous variants of the package to inflate developer reputation scores. The continuous republishing of these variants leads to pollution of the npm registry, which can have serious ramifications for developers relying on the integrity of npm packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall fat_swan-silentdevIf 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 fat_swan-silentdev package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, regularly audit your npm packages using tools like npm audit to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The fat_swan-silentdev package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and remain vigilant about the packages they use. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in monitoring for vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
The fat_swan-silentdev package is an npm package that has been compromised to include malicious code aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the generation of derivative packages.
This vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially introducing harmful packages into your project and compromising its security.
If you have installed the fat_swan-silentdev package, you should uninstall it immediately using the command npm uninstall fat_swan-silentdev.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground without any signup.
To prevent similar vulnerabilities, regularly audit your dependencies, keep your packages updated, and use trusted sources for package installations.
