Malicious Code Injection in terrible_mammal-appteadev: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-109557: Malicious code in terrible_mammal-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package terrible_mammal-appteadev is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other developers and users relying on 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 terrible_mammal-appteadevIf 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 terrible_mammal-appteadev package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The terrible_mammal-appteadev package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies to maintain the security and integrity of their applications.
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FAQ
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, affecting the reputation of developers and potentially introducing security risks to applications that depend on these packages.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
You should uninstall the terrible_mammal-appteadev package immediately and consider using alternative packages that do not have known vulnerabilities.
Regularly monitor your dependencies using tools like Vulert and keep your packages updated to the latest secure versions to minimize the risk of vulnerabilities.
Signs of compromise may include unexpected behavior, performance issues, or the presence of unfamiliar packages in your project. Always audit your dependencies.
