Malicious Code Injection in Subtle Angelfish Replicate Automation Package
Summary
MAL-2025-109243: Malicious code in subtle_angelfish_replicate_automation (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'subtle_angelfish_replicate_automation' package is part of a broader ecosystem within the npm registry, often associated with token reward campaigns. This package is designed to automate certain tasks but has been compromised to include malicious scripts that manipulate its functionality and integrity. The vulnerability stems from its association with the tea.xyz token reward initiative, which has been linked to a series of malicious activities aimed at inflating developer reputation scores.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'subtle_angelfish_replicate_automation' package involves the presence of malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is intended to continuously republish variants of the package, polluting the npm registry and potentially leading to security risks for developers who unknowingly use these compromised packages. The origin of this vulnerability is traced back to the package's involvement in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been identified as a source of numerous malicious npm packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall subtle_angelfish_replicate_automationIf 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 prevent the package from being used by removing it from your project dependencies. Use the following command: 'npm uninstall subtle_angelfish_replicate_automation'. 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 'subtle_angelfish_replicate_automation' package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses significant risks to developers using it. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to ensure the security of your project. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring for such vulnerabilities in the future.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with automation tasks but has been compromised to include malicious code.
The vulnerability can lead to the modification of your package.json file and the introduction of unwanted packages, potentially compromising your project's integrity.
You should update the package to a patched version or remove it from your project 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.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities without any signup.
