Malicious Code Injection in rich_chipmunk-apptea Package
Summary
MAL-2025-108050: Malicious code in rich_chipmunk-apptea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The rich_chipmunk-apptea package is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign that has recently flooded the npm ecosystem. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards for developers by generating and publishing derivative packages. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the rich_chipmunk-apptea package, which includes scripts that automatically modify the package.json file. These modifications remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This can result in developers unknowingly using compromised packages, which may lead to security breaches and loss of reputation.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rich_chipmunk-appteaIf 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 rich_chipmunk-apptea package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The rich_chipmunk-apptea package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package files and pollutes the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain security and integrity.
See every vulnerability recorded for rich_chipmunk-apptea →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been identified to contain malicious code.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to the installation of compromised packages and pollution of the npm registry.
You should uninstall the rich_chipmunk-apptea package immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
Yes, 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 use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
