Malicious Code Injection in honest_swordfish-appteadev: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-103784: Malicious code in honest_swordfish-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'honest_swordfish-appteadev' is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards through the generation and publication of derivative packages. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package being part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. It includes scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, change version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior not only inflates developer reputation scores but also pollutes the npm registry, potentially leading to security risks for users who unknowingly install these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall honest_swordfish-appteadevIf 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 'honest_swordfish-appteadev' package and consider alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your package dependencies using tools like Vulert, which can alert you to vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The 'honest_swordfish-appteadev' package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity and security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for honest_swordfish-appteadev →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file and can lead to the installation of compromised packages, affecting your project's integrity and security.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall honest_swordfish-appteadev' and check for any other affected packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for any open-source vulnerabilities.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
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Habit tracker with a companion that grows with you
Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
