Malicious Code Injection in wee_cardinal-appteadev: npm Package Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-110783: Malicious code in wee_cardinal-appteadev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'wee_cardinal-appteadev' package is part of the npm ecosystem, typically used for application development. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts, which can lead to significant security risks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the 'wee_cardinal-appteadev' package, which is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It contains malicious scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. The scripts generate random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republish these variants, polluting the npm registry. This can lead to unauthorized access, reputation damage, and potential exploitation of dependent applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall wee_cardinal-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 remove the package from your project by running the following command: npm uninstall wee_cardinal-appteadev. This will prevent the execution of any malicious scripts associated with it.
Conclusion
The 'wee_cardinal-appteadev' package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm registry entries. It is essential to remove this package and monitor your projects for vulnerabilities to maintain application integrity.
See every vulnerability recorded for wee_cardinal-appteadev →
FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications of your package.json file, potentially exposing your application to security risks and reputation damage.
You should immediately uninstall the package and check for any unauthorized changes in your project files.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
