Malicious Code Injection in proposed_catfish-toolteadev: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-107357: Malicious code in proposed_catfish-toolteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The proposed_catfish-toolteadev package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript development. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages often contain scripts that manipulate package metadata to inflate developer reputation scores, posing a significant risk to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in proposed_catfish-toolteadev originates from its association with malicious scripts designed to autopublish derivative packages. These scripts modify the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also compromises the security of applications relying on this package, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data manipulation.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall proposed_catfish-toolteadevIf 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 proposed_catfish-toolteadev package and replace it with a trusted alternative. Additionally, regularly audit your npm packages using 'npm audit' to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The proposed_catfish-toolteadev package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, known for containing malicious scripts.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications of your package metadata, potentially compromising your application's security.
You should uninstall the proposed_catfish-toolteadev package immediately and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without signing up.
