Malicious Code Injection in international_swordtail-appteadev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-104361: Malicious code in international_swordtail-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The international_swordtail-appteadev package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the 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 the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the package, which includes scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other developers by inflating reputation scores fraudulently. The malicious payload can also lead to security risks for applications relying on this package, as it may introduce unverified code into their environments.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall international_swordtail-appteadevIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, avoid using the international_swordtail-appteadev package and monitor your package-lock.json file for any dependencies that may introduce this vulnerability. You can also utilize tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities without requiring access to the code or installation.
Conclusion
The international_swordtail-appteadev package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and monitor your dependencies for any vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help ensure your application remains secure.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code can modify your package.json file, remove private flags, and introduce unverified code, potentially compromising your application's security.
You should uninstall the package immediately using npm uninstall international_swordtail-appteadev and monitor your dependencies for any related vulnerabilities.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without needing to access the code.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
Habilume
Habit tracker with a companion that grows with you
Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
