Malicious Code Injection in selfish_chickadee-toolteadev: npm Package Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-108518: Malicious code in selfish_chickadee-toolteadev (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 'selfish_chickadee-toolteadev' 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. The primary functionality of this package is to facilitate development tools, but it has been compromised to include harmful scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from a malicious payload embedded within the 'selfish_chickadee-toolteadev' package. This payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The intent is to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a significant risk to developers who may unknowingly install these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall selfish_chickadee-toolteadevIf 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 remove the 'selfish_chickadee-toolteadev' package from your project by executing: npm uninstall selfish_chickadee-toolteadev. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The 'selfish_chickadee-toolteadev' package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise the integrity of your projects. It is vital to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in your software.
See every vulnerability recorded for selfish_chickadee-toolteadev →
FAQ
The malicious code can lead to unauthorized modifications of your project's package.json, potentially allowing for the installation of harmful dependencies.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
If you have installed 'selfish_chickadee-toolteadev', it is crucial to uninstall it immediately and check for any other affected packages.
Regularly audit your dependencies and use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Signs include unexpected changes in your package.json, new dependencies appearing without your knowledge, or unusual behavior in your application.
