Malicious Code Injection in redundant_bug-smiletea Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107794: Malicious code in redundant_bug-smiletea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The redundant_bug-smiletea package is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign that has infiltrated the npm ecosystem. It is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This package, like others in the campaign, is characterized by its use of scripts that automate the publishing process, potentially leading to a polluted npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the redundant_bug-smiletea package stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches and reputation damage.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall redundant_bug-smileteaIf 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 redundant_bug-smiletea package from your project by executing: npm uninstall redundant_bug-smiletea. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The redundant_bug-smiletea package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry with compromised packages. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action to mitigate this vulnerability by updating or removing the affected package and employing monitoring tools like Vulert to safeguard their projects.
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FAQ
It is a package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of npm packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the modification of your package.json file, potentially exposing your project to security risks and affecting your reputation in the developer community.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file. You can also check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring, and stay updated on security advisories related to the packages you use.
