Malicious Code Injection in poised_macaw-excellentdev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107121: Malicious code in poised_macaw-excellentdev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The poised_macaw-excellentdev 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 and the security of the npm registry.
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 by inflating reputation scores fraudulently. The malicious scripts included in the package are designed to execute these actions automatically, making it a significant threat to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall poised_macaw-excellentdevIf 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 prevent the installation of this malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json file to lock dependencies. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The poised_macaw-excellentdev package contains a significant vulnerability that can compromise the integrity of the npm registry and affect developers' reputation scores. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your project for any vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
See every vulnerability recorded for poised_macaw-excellentdev →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your project's dependencies.
You should remove the poised_macaw-excellentdev package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
Yes, Vulert allows you to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring, and stay informed about vulnerabilities in the packages you use.
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Habit tracker with a companion that grows with you
Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
