Malicious Code Injection in tealove-boy48: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-168156: Malicious code in tealove-boy48 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package tealove-boy48 is part of a broader campaign associated with the tea.xyz token reward system, which has been known to flood the npm ecosystem with malicious packages. These packages are designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to manipulate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This behavior not only undermines the integrity of the npm registry but also poses significant risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in tealove-boy48 stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This allows the package to continuously republish variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially leading to the installation of compromised packages by unsuspecting developers. The origin of this issue is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which incentivizes the creation of such malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall tealove-boy48If 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 tealove-boy48 package and instead look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Always verify the integrity and reputation of packages before installation.
Conclusion
The tealove-boy48 package poses a significant threat to npm users due to its malicious behavior aimed at manipulating developer reputation scores. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help you stay informed about potential risks in your projects.
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FAQ
Tealove-boy48 is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, part of a campaign to manipulate developer reputation scores for token rewards.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of compromised packages, which may introduce security risks and affect the integrity of your project.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command npm uninstall tealove-boy48 and review your project for any other potentially compromised packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Yes, you should look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality but have a verified reputation and are not associated with malicious activities.
