Malicious Code Injection in medieval_echidna-smiletea Package
Summary
MAL-2025-105760: Malicious code in medieval_echidna-smiletea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The medieval_echidna-smiletea package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the generation and publication of derivative packages, which are often used to inflate developer reputation scores in exchange for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious scripts that compromise its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the medieval_echidna-smiletea package originates from its inclusion in a campaign that floods the npm registry 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 leads to the continuous republishing of variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can potentially harm developers relying on legitimate packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall medieval_echidna-smileteaIf 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 medieval_echidna-smiletea package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, regularly audit your project's dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The medieval_echidna-smiletea package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
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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 vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising the integrity of your project's dependencies.
You should uninstall the medieval_echidna-smiletea package immediately and monitor your project for any further vulnerabilities.
Yes, tools like Vulert can monitor your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
