Malicious Code Injection in friendly_swan-smiletea Package
Summary
MAL-2025-102935: Malicious code in friendly_swan-smiletea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The friendly_swan-smiletea package is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with various packages. These packages are designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to modify critical files and continuously republish variants, thereby polluting the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
This vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the friendly_swan-smiletea package, which includes scripts that automatically generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names. The payload alters the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and creating random package names. This not only affects the integrity of the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall friendly_swan-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 friendly_swan-smiletea package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file using tools like Vulert to detect any vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The friendly_swan-smiletea package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code injection capabilities. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant about their dependencies and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities. By removing compromised packages and staying informed about updates, developers can protect their applications from potential threats.
See every vulnerability recorded for friendly_swan-smiletea →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, known for its malicious behavior.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code in your application, compromising its security and integrity.
You should immediately remove the friendly_swan-smiletea package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
Yes, regularly audit your dependencies and use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
