Malicious Code Injection in united_worm-smiletea: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-110142: Malicious code in united_worm-smiletea (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'united_worm-smiletea' is part of a malicious campaign targeting the npm ecosystem, specifically linked to the tea.xyz token reward initiative. This package is designed to manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing numerous derivative packages with altered names and metadata. Its primary function is to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, making it a significant threat to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious design of the 'united_worm-smiletea' package, which contains scripts that automatically modify the package.json file. This includes removing private flags, changing version numbers, and creating random package names, which leads to the pollution of the npm registry. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these compromised packages, as well as the degradation of trust in the npm ecosystem due to the proliferation of malicious content.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall united_worm-smileteaIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, avoid using the 'united_worm-smiletea' package and monitor your project's dependencies for any unauthorized changes. Regularly audit your npm packages using 'npm audit' to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The 'united_worm-smiletea' package poses a significant threat to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious intent to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores. It is crucial for developers to remain vigilant, regularly audit their dependencies, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for united_worm-smiletea →
FAQ
It is a malicious npm package designed to manipulate the npm registry and inflate developer reputation scores through automated scripts.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
Using this package can lead to security vulnerabilities, unauthorized changes in your project, and potential exposure to malicious code.
It is recommended to audit your npm packages regularly, especially before deploying your application or after adding new dependencies.
Immediately remove any malicious packages from your project and report them to the npm registry to help protect other developers.
