Malicious Code Injection in verify-taic-malalu Package
Summary
MAL-2025-170480: Malicious code in verify-taic-malalu (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The verify-taic-malalu package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards through various automated scripts. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of applications that depend on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to reputation inflation for developers and potentially expose applications to further security risks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall verify-taic-malaluIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the verify-taic-malalu package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The verify-taic-malalu package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and can lead to further vulnerabilities. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for updates or alternatives to ensure the security of your applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to facilitate automated token rewards.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially exposing your application to security risks and reputation inflation.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall verify-taic-malalu' and monitor for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
Vulert monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json, providing real-time insights into potential risks.
