Malicious Code Injection in cheerful_primate_requirement Package
Summary
MAL-2025-93523: Malicious code in cheerful_primate_requirement (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The cheerful_primate_requirement package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been linked to the proliferation of malicious packages on npm. The primary function of this package is to facilitate token rewards, but its malicious nature compromises its integrity and the security of applications that depend on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the inclusion of malicious code within the cheerful_primate_requirement package. This code is designed to automatically 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 origin of this vulnerability is traced back to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the creation of derivative packages. The ramifications include potential exposure of sensitive data, pollution of the npm registry, and a compromised development environment.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall cheerful_primate_requirementIf 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 cheerful_primate_requirement package from your project by executing the following command: npm uninstall cheerful_primate_requirement. This will prevent any malicious code from executing while you seek a secure alternative.
Conclusion
The cheerful_primate_requirement package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and repopulates the npm registry with harmful variants. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in their projects.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been found to contain malicious code.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially exposing sensitive information and polluting the npm registry.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
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 any signup.
