Malicious Code Injection in solid_otter-smiletea: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-108914: Malicious code in solid_otter-smiletea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package solid_otter-smiletea 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, often containing scripts that automatically generate and publish new versions with altered metadata. Its functionality is compromised due to the presence of malicious code that modifies package attributes, potentially leading to widespread issues in the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in solid_otter-smiletea originates from its association with a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload alters the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only inflates developer reputation scores but also pollutes the npm registry, making it difficult for developers to find legitimate packages. The continuous republishing of these variants poses a significant risk to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall solid_otter-smileteaIf 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 solid_otter-smiletea 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 solid_otter-smiletea package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and monitor for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to ensure the security of their applications.
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FAQ
solid_otter-smiletea is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at flooding the npm registry with derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately using npm uninstall solid_otter-smiletea and monitor your project for any other vulnerabilities.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
