Malicious Code Injection in tealove-darknest46: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-168304: Malicious code in tealove-darknest46 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
tealove-darknest46 is an npm package that is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to interact with the npm ecosystem, primarily for developers looking to enhance their reputation through token rewards. However, it has been identified as malicious, containing scripts that manipulate package metadata and flood the npm registry with derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in tealove-darknest46 originates from its inclusion in a campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing numerous derivative packages. The malicious payload alters the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and creating random package names, which leads to pollution of the npm registry. This can result in developers unknowingly using compromised packages, potentially exposing their applications to further security risks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall tealove-darknest46If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
Currently, there are no specific workarounds to mitigate the effects of this vulnerability other than removing the affected package from your project. Regularly audit your dependencies to ensure no malicious packages are included.
Conclusion
The tealove-darknest46 package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm package metadata. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies to safeguard their applications from potential security risks.
See every vulnerability recorded for tealove-darknest46 →
FAQ
tealove-darknest46 is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, designed to manipulate package metadata and flood the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of compromised packages in your application, potentially exposing it to security risks and instability.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall tealove-darknest46' and check your package-lock.json for any references to it.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for real-time monitoring, and stay updated on known vulnerabilities in the packages you use.
