Malicious Code Injection in certain_beetle_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100310: Malicious code in certain_beetle_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The certain_beetle_0xrequest 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 by generating and publishing derivative packages. However, it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata, potentially harming developers and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the certain_beetle_0xrequest package, which contains malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the pollution of the npm registry. The malicious payload can inflate developer reputation scores fraudulently, posing risks to both developers and users relying on the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall certain_beetle_0xrequestIf 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 avoid using the certain_beetle_0xrequest package and consider alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file using Vulert to detect any vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The certain_beetle_0xrequest package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to ensure ongoing security.
See every vulnerability recorded for certain_beetle_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to unauthorized package republishing and affecting your project's integrity.
You should remove the certain_beetle_0xrequest package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without signing up.
