Malicious Code Injection in incredible_cardinal-silentdev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-104087: Malicious code in incredible_cardinal-silentdev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The incredible_cardinal-silentdev package is part of the npm ecosystem, typically used for various development tasks. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit npm's package publishing system. This package is designed to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publishing of derivative packages with randomized names, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package being associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which floods npm with malicious packages. These packages contain scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these tainted packages, leading to potential security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall incredible_cardinal-silentdevIf 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 avoid using the incredible_cardinal-silentdev package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can use the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall incredible_cardinal-silentdev.
Conclusion
The incredible_cardinal-silentdev package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm's package publishing system. It is crucial for developers to be aware of such vulnerabilities and take proactive measures to secure their applications by removing affected packages and utilizing monitoring tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores.
Using this package can compromise your application's security by introducing malicious code that modifies your package.json and publishes unauthorized packages.
You should uninstall the package immediately and monitor your application for any unusual behavior.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
