Malicious Code Injection in scientific_swallow-teagooddev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-108429: Malicious code in scientific_swallow-teagooddev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The scientific_swallow-teagooddev package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the distribution of derivative packages that can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's inclusion in a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the affected package but also pollutes the npm registry, potentially affecting other developers and users relying on legitimate packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall scientific_swallow-teagooddevIf 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 scientific_swallow-teagooddev package until a fix is confirmed. Additionally, consider using npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities in your project dependencies.
Conclusion
The scientific_swallow-teagooddev package has been compromised with malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor for updates or patches. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in identifying vulnerabilities in your projects effectively.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate derivative packages for reputation inflation.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to unauthorized package republishing and registry pollution.
You should remove the package immediately and check for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without signing up.
