Malicious Code Injection in ideological_wolverine-notthedev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-103941: Malicious code in ideological_wolverine-notthedev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The ideological_wolverine-notthedev package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores in exchange for token rewards. 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 a malicious payload embedded within the ideological_wolverine-notthedev package. This payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture. The malicious scripts (auto.js, autopublish.js, etc.) continuously republish these variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry and potential exploitation of developers who unknowingly use these packages. The ramifications include compromised developer reputations and the risk of introducing vulnerabilities into projects that depend on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ideological_wolverine-notthedevIf 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 ideological_wolverine-notthedev package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The ideological_wolverine-notthedev package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters project files and pollutes the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to ensure the security of their applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package linked to 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 publication of compromised packages, affecting your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall ideological_wolverine-notthedev' and check for any other affected packages.
You can use Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time by analyzing 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.
