Malicious Code Injection in tealove-boy8: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-168162: Malicious code in tealove-boy8 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package tealove-boy8 is part of a series of npm packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior not only clutters the npm registry but also poses a significant risk to users who may unknowingly install these malicious packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in tealove-boy8 originates from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This can lead to compromised systems, as users may inadvertently install these harmful packages, exposing their applications to security risks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall tealove-boy8If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the tealove-boy8 package and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your project's dependencies to identify and remove any potentially harmful packages.
Conclusion
The tealove-boy8 package poses a significant risk to npm users due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and flood the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package and regularly audit your dependencies to maintain the security of your projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for tealove-boy8 →
FAQ
tealove-boy8 is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
You can use tools like Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities. By analyzing your package-lock.json file, Vulert can alert you in real-time about any vulnerabilities, including those related to tealove-boy8.
If you have installed tealove-boy8, you should uninstall it immediately using the command: npm uninstall tealove-boy8, and review your project's dependencies for any other suspicious packages.
No, there are no patches available for tealove-boy8 as it is a malicious package. The best course of action is to remove it from your project.
To prevent similar vulnerabilities, regularly audit your dependencies, keep them updated, and use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
