Malicious Code Injection in naval_ladybug-smiletea Package
Summary
MAL-2025-106211: Malicious code in naval_ladybug-smiletea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The naval_ladybug-smiletea package is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been associated with a surge of malicious packages on npm. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards by generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. Its primary function is to inflate developer reputation scores within the tea protocol ecosystem, but it has been compromised to include harmful scripts.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in naval_ladybug-smiletea originates from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these tainted packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall naval_ladybug-smileteaIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can avoid using the naval_ladybug-smiletea package altogether. If it is already included in your project, remove it by running: npm uninstall naval_ladybug-smiletea. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. Vulert can analyze your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time about any open-source vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The naval_ladybug-smiletea package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry with compromised packages. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the security of their projects.
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FAQ
It is a package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to inflate developer reputation scores by generating and publishing derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your project, compromising its integrity and potentially exposing it to security risks.
You should uninstall the naval_ladybug-smiletea package immediately and monitor your project for any further vulnerabilities.
You can use Vulert, which analyzes your package-lock.json file to provide real-time alerts for open-source vulnerabilities without requiring code access.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
