Malicious Code Injection in bottom_caterpillar_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100058: Malicious code in bottom_caterpillar_0xrequest (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 bottom_caterpillar_0xrequest package is part of a series of npm packages that have been associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores. This behavior not only clutters the npm registry but also poses significant risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from malicious code embedded within the bottom_caterpillar_0xrequest package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. The origin of this malicious activity is linked to a broader campaign aimed at exploiting npm's ecosystem for token rewards, which can result in reputational damage for developers and potential security risks for applications relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall bottom_caterpillar_0xrequestIf 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 bottom_caterpillar_0xrequest 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. You can check if your application is affected by visiting the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner.
Conclusion
The bottom_caterpillar_0xrequest package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor for similar vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
See every vulnerability recorded for bottom_caterpillar_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is an npm package that is part of a campaign to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages.
Using this package can lead to security risks, including the potential for malicious code execution and reputational damage due to the pollution of the npm registry.
You should uninstall the bottom_caterpillar_0xrequest package immediately and check for any references in your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities without needing to sign up.
