Malicious Code Injection in salty_tarsier-gooddev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-108344: Malicious code in salty_tarsier-gooddev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The salty_tarsier-gooddev 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 designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the salty_tarsier-gooddev package stems from its inclusion in a campaign that deploys malicious scripts. These scripts, such as auto.js and autopublish.js, are designed to modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of other packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall salty_tarsier-gooddevIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can avoid using the salty_tarsier-gooddev package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The salty_tarsier-gooddev package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and pollute the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package from your project and utilize tools like Vulert for ongoing vulnerability monitoring.
See every vulnerability recorded for salty_tarsier-gooddev →
FAQ
salty_tarsier-gooddev is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the creation of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially exposing your project to further vulnerabilities and cluttering the npm registry with unwanted packages.
You should uninstall the salty_tarsier-gooddev package immediately and monitor your project for any other vulnerabilities.
Yes, regularly audit your dependencies and use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
