Malicious Code Injection in preferred_rhinoceros-appteadev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107197: Malicious code in preferred_rhinoceros-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The preferred_rhinoceros-appteadev package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. However, this package has been identified as malicious, containing scripts that manipulate package metadata and flood the npm registry with numerous variants.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package being part of a malicious campaign that employs scripts to modify the package.json file. This includes removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The continuous republishing of these variants can lead to pollution of the npm registry, potentially harming developers' reputations and the integrity of the ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall preferred_rhinoceros-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 remove the preferred_rhinoceros-appteadev package from your project by executing: npm uninstall preferred_rhinoceros-appteadev. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a fix is applied.
Conclusion
The preferred_rhinoceros-appteadev package contains a significant vulnerability that can compromise the integrity of your project and the npm registry. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your application.
See every vulnerability recorded for preferred_rhinoceros-appteadev →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the modification of your package.json file and the pollution of the npm registry, which may harm your project's reputation.
You should immediately update the package to a patched version or uninstall it to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software without needing access to the code or installation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
