Malicious Code Injection in charming_locust_replicate_automation Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100346: Malicious code in charming_locust_replicate_automation (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The charming_locust_replicate_automation package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is designed to facilitate automation tasks but has been compromised to include malicious code. The vulnerability stems from its association with a token reward campaign that exploits npm's publishing mechanisms, leading to potential abuse of developer reputation systems.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the charming_locust_replicate_automation package is characterized by the presence of malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which are then republished to the npm registry. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to a campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, potentially leading to a polluted npm registry and undermining the integrity of the ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall charming_locust_replicate_automationIf 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 charming_locust_replicate_automation package from your project by executing the following command: 'npm uninstall charming_locust_replicate_automation'. This will prevent any malicious code from executing while you assess the situation.
Conclusion
The charming_locust_replicate_automation package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your projects from potential exploitation.
See every vulnerability recorded for charming_locust_replicate_automation →
FAQ
It is an npm package designed for automation tasks but has been compromised to include malicious code.
The malicious code modifies your package.json, potentially leading to unauthorized republishing of your packages and pollution of the npm registry.
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Consider uninstalling the package as a temporary measure to mitigate the risk while you plan for a proper fix.
Detailed information can be found in the vulnerability report provided by Amazon Inspector and on the GitHub repository for malicious packages.
