Malicious Code Injection in cold_hummingbird_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100649: Malicious code in cold_hummingbird_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The cold_hummingbird_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 publishing of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores. This behavior raises significant concerns regarding the integrity and security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the cold_hummingbird_0xrequest package stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior not only compromises the security of the affected packages but also pollutes the npm registry with potentially harmful derivatives. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which exploits npm's publishing mechanisms to manipulate developer reputation.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall cold_hummingbird_0xrequestIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the cold_hummingbird_0xrequest package and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz campaign. Regularly audit your dependencies to ensure that no malicious packages are included in your project.
Conclusion
The cold_hummingbird_0xrequest package presents a significant security risk due to its malicious code injection capabilities. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in maintaining the security of your applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that automates the creation and publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the injection of malicious code, compromising the security of your application and polluting the npm registry.
You should remove the cold_hummingbird_0xrequest package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json 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 without signing up.
