Malicious Code Injection in Grateful Earwig Appteadev Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-103352: Malicious code in grateful_earwig-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The 'grateful_earwig-appteadev' package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate automated publishing of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other developers relying on npm for package management. The malicious scripts included in this package are designed to automate the creation and publication of these harmful derivatives.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall grateful_earwig-appteadevIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can remove the 'grateful_earwig-appteadev' package from your project by executing the command: 'npm uninstall grateful_earwig-appteadev'. This will prevent the execution of any malicious code associated with the package until a fix is applied.
Conclusion
The 'grateful_earwig-appteadev' package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and their applications. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in your software.
See every vulnerability recorded for grateful_earwig-appteadev →
FAQ
The malicious code modifies package.json to remove private flags and generates random package names, leading to the pollution of the npm registry.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
Using this package can lead to security vulnerabilities, including the exposure of sensitive information and the risk of your application being compromised through malicious scripts.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring vulnerabilities, and keep your packages updated to the latest secure versions.
If you have been affected, remove the package immediately, update your dependencies, and review your application for any unauthorized changes or security breaches.
