Malicious Code Injection in cooing_whale_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100990: Malicious code in cooing_whale_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The cooing_whale_0xrequest package is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to automate the publication of derivative packages with randomized names, aiming to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, they are susceptible to malicious code injection that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the cooing_whale_0xrequest package, which contains scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This can result in developers inadvertently using compromised packages, exposing their applications to potential security risks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall cooing_whale_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 prevent the installation of the cooing_whale_0xrequest package by adding it to your project's .npmrc file with the following line: 'package-lock=false'. This will stop npm from installing this package until a fix is available.
Conclusion
The cooing_whale_0xrequest package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor for updates to safeguard your applications from potential vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that is part of a campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious packages that modify your application's metadata and potentially introduce security risks.
You can use Vulert, which monitors open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
Remove the cooing_whale_0xrequest package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches that address this vulnerability.
Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like Vulert and keep your packages updated to the latest secure versions.
