Malicious Code Injection in tealove-nice49: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-168529: Malicious code in tealove-nice49 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package tealove-nice49 is part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign that has infiltrated the npm ecosystem. It is designed to generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names, aiming to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This malicious behavior poses a significant risk to developers and users relying on npm packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in tealove-nice49 originates from its malicious code, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random Indonesian-themed package names and continuously republishes variants, polluting the npm registry. This can lead to the installation of compromised packages, potentially exposing users to security risks and undermining 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 tealove-nice49If 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-nice49 package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may have been affected by this malicious package. Regularly audit your npm packages using 'npm audit' to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The tealove-nice49 package poses a significant threat to npm users due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and publish compromised variants. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies to maintain the security of your projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for tealove-nice49 →
FAQ
Tealove-nice49 is an npm package that has been identified as malicious, part of a campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the publication of compromised packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious code, which may compromise your project's security and integrity by introducing unwanted behavior or exposing sensitive data.
You should immediately uninstall the package using 'npm uninstall tealove-nice49' and check for any other affected packages in your project.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can also check your application against vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
Regularly audit your npm packages, keep them updated, and utilize monitoring tools like Vulert to stay informed about vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
