Malicious Code Injection in npznxk-devapptea: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-106402: Malicious code in npznxk-devapptea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package npznxk-devapptea is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign that has inundated the npm ecosystem. It is designed to facilitate automatic publishing of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This package, like others in the campaign, includes scripts that manipulate package metadata and continuously republish variants, posing a significant risk to the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in npznxk-devapptea arises from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the pollution of the npm registry and can compromise the security of applications relying on this package. The origin of this issue is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which employs such tactics to exploit the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall npznxk-devappteaIf 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 npznxk-devapptea package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The npznxk-devapptea package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and pollute the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the security of their applications.
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FAQ
npznxk-devapptea is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at exploiting the npm registry by publishing derivative packages with altered metadata.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising the security and integrity of applications that depend on this package.
You should uninstall the npznxk-devapptea package immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities.
Absolutely! You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
