Malicious Code Injection in husky_caterpillar-excellentdev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-103866: Malicious code in husky_caterpillar-excellentdev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The husky_caterpillar-excellentdev package is part of the npm ecosystem, typically used for development purposes. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. This package is designed to manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names, thereby inflating developer reputation scores for token rewards.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the husky_caterpillar-excellentdev package stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry. This behavior can compromise the integrity of the npm ecosystem, allowing for potential exploitation by malicious actors.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall husky_caterpillar-excellentdevIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can prevent the installation of this package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. Ensure that your project does not include husky_caterpillar-excellentdev in its dependencies.
Conclusion
The husky_caterpillar-excellentdev package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that manipulates the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and monitor for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to ensure the security of your applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, known for containing malicious code.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and compromise the integrity of your project's dependencies.
You should uninstall the husky_caterpillar-excellentdev package immediately and check for any updates or alternatives.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using your package-lock.json.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without any signup.
