Malicious Code Injection in hnvbvz-devapptea: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-103740: Malicious code in hnvbvz-devapptea (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
hnvbvz-devapptea is a package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with numerous packages. These packages are designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publishing of derivative packages. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to alter important metadata within the package, potentially affecting the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in hnvbvz-devapptea stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to clutter the npm registry. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the affected package but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these malicious packages, leading to potential 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 hnvbvz-devappteaIf 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 avoid using the hnvbvz-devapptea package until a patched version is released. Additionally, consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The hnvbvz-devapptea package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is essential for developers to stay informed about such vulnerabilities and take necessary actions to protect their applications. Regularly updating packages and utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the integrity of your software.
See every vulnerability recorded for hnvbvz-devapptea →
FAQ
hnvbvz-devapptea is an npm package linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been flagged for containing malicious code.
The malicious code modifies the package.json file, removes private flags, changes version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to pollution of the npm registry.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. By utilizing the Vulert playground, you can check if your application is affected without any signup.
If you have installed hnvbvz-devapptea, it is crucial to update it to the latest version or remove it from your project to mitigate any risks.
This vulnerability can lead to a loss of trust in the npm ecosystem, as it allows malicious actors to clutter the registry with harmful packages, potentially affecting developers and their applications.
