Malicious Code Injection in thick_capybara-appteadev: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-109599: Malicious code in thick_capybara-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package thick_capybara-appteadev is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for rewards. This package has been identified as malicious due to its functionality that modifies package metadata and repackages itself under various names.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the thick_capybara-appteadev package, which includes scripts that automatically alter the package.json file. These modifications remove private flags, change version numbers, and create random package names, leading to pollution of the npm registry. The potential ramifications include compromised developer accounts, loss of control over published packages, and damage to 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 thick_capybara-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 thick_capybara-appteadev package and monitor your project for any unauthorized changes. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities. You can access Vulert's playground at https://vulert.com/scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
Conclusion
The thick_capybara-appteadev package poses a significant threat to npm users due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repackages itself. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and utilize monitoring tools like Vulert to safeguard against future vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
thick_capybara-appteadev is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications of your package.json file, potentially compromising your project's integrity and security.
If you have installed thick_capybara-appteadev, you should uninstall it immediately using the command: npm uninstall thick_capybara-appteadev.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit https://vulert.com for more information.
There are no patches available for thick_capybara-appteadev as it is a malicious package. The best course of action is to remove it from your project.
