Malicious Code Injection in provincial_cephalopod-appteadev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107391: Malicious code in provincial_cephalopod-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The provincial_cephalopod-appteadev package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards for developers by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package being part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the pollution of the npm registry. This can result in developers unknowingly using compromised packages, which can affect their applications and reputations.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall provincial_cephalopod-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 avoid using the provincial_cephalopod-appteadev package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file for any changes that may indicate the introduction of malicious packages.
Conclusion
The provincial_cephalopod-appteadev package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies to maintain the integrity of their applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code can modify your package.json file, potentially leading to the use of compromised packages and affecting your application's integrity.
You should uninstall the provincial_cephalopod-appteadev package immediately and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
