Malicious Code Injection in mans-matdu-masn Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-159712: Malicious code in mans-matdu-masn (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The mans-matdu-masn 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 for token rewards. However, it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that modify its own package.json and continuously republish variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from malicious code embedded within the mans-matdu-masn package. This code is designed to remove private flags from the package.json file, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, which can lead to an inflated number of published packages. The continuous republishing of these variants can compromise the integrity of the npm registry and potentially affect developers who rely on this ecosystem for legitimate packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall mans-matdu-masnIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can remove the mans-matdu-masn package from your project by executing the following command: npm uninstall mans-matdu-masn. This will help mitigate the risk until a patched version is released.
Conclusion
The mans-matdu-masn package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise the integrity of the npm registry and affect developers. It is crucial to update or remove this package to mitigate risks and ensure the security of your projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for mans-matdu-masn →
FAQ
The mans-matdu-masn package is part of the npm ecosystem and is involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the modification of your package.json file and the introduction of malicious scripts, potentially compromising your project's integrity.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file. You can check your application for vulnerabilities without any signup using the Vulert playground.
If a patched version is not available, it is advisable to remove the package from your project to prevent any potential exploitation.
Regularly update your dependencies, monitor for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, and review your package.json for any suspicious entries.
