Malicious Code Injection in plain_toad-notthedev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107094: Malicious code in plain_toad-notthedev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The plain_toad-notthedev 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 identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other developers and projects relying on npm packages. The malicious scripts included in the package are designed to automate these processes, making it difficult for users to detect the underlying issues.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall plain_toad-notthedevIf 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 plain_toad-notthedev package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, regularly audit your project's dependencies to identify and mitigate any vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The plain_toad-notthedev package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and can lead to significant issues within the npm ecosystem. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
The plain_toad-notthedev package is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which automates the generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting other projects and developers who rely on npm packages.
It is advisable to remove the plain_toad-notthedev package from your project immediately and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring a signup.
