Malicious Code Injection in nice_hornet-appteadev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-106301: Malicious code in nice_hornet-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The nice_hornet-appteadev package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily used for various development purposes. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. This package is particularly vulnerable due to its association with the tea.xyz token reward scheme, which incentivizes the creation of numerous fake packages to inflate developer reputation scores.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the nice_hornet-appteadev package stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to significant security risks, including the potential for dependency confusion and the spread of malicious code within the developer community.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall nice_hornet-appteadevIf 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 nice_hornet-appteadev package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities in your project.
Conclusion
The nice_hornet-appteadev package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious behavior of modifying package files and republishing fake packages. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain security and integrity.
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FAQ
The nice_hornet-appteadev package is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the creation of fake packages.
This vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your project, potentially compromising your application's security and integrity.
You should uninstall the nice_hornet-appteadev package immediately and check for any other affected dependencies in your project.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors 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 by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
