Malicious Code Injection in worthy_crane-notthedev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-111030: Malicious code in worthy_crane-notthedev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The worthy_crane-notthedev package is part of the npm ecosystem, often used for various development tasks. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. This package is particularly vulnerable due to its involvement in the tea.xyz token reward scheme, which exploits npm's publishing capabilities.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from malicious code embedded within the worthy_crane-notthedev package. This code is designed to modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of these variants. The primary risk is the pollution of the npm registry, which can compromise the integrity of the ecosystem and potentially expose users to further malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall worthy_crane-notthedevIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can avoid using the worthy_crane-notthedev package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
Conclusion
The worthy_crane-notthedev package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm's publishing system. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for worthy_crane-notthedev →
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 the pollution of the npm registry and may expose your project to further malicious packages.
You should remove the worthy_crane-notthedev package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
