Malicious Code Injection in rough_swordtail-silentdev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-108208: Malicious code in rough_swordtail-silentdev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The rough_swordtail-silentdev package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the rough_swordtail-silentdev package originates from its involvement in a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and potentially compromise the security of applications relying on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rough_swordtail-silentdevIf 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 rough_swordtail-silentdev package from your project to prevent any malicious activity. Use the following command: npm uninstall rough_swordtail-silentdev.
Conclusion
The rough_swordtail-silentdev package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to applications using it. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your project from potential vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for rough_swordtail-silentdev →
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, remove private flags, and pollute the npm registry, potentially compromising your application's security.
You should update the package to a patched version if available, or uninstall it to mitigate the risk.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without requiring any signup.
