Malicious Code Injection in distinguished_clam_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-101658: Malicious code in distinguished_clam_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The distinguished_clam_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit npm's publishing system. It is designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, which can lead to reputation inflation for developers involved in the tea.xyz token reward scheme. The malicious nature of this package poses significant risks to developers and users relying on npm for secure package management.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is intended to flood the npm registry with numerous variants of the package, thereby polluting the ecosystem. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which incentivizes the creation of such malicious packages. The ramifications include potential security risks for applications using this package, as well as a compromised npm registry.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall distinguished_clam_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 distinguished_clam_0xrequest package altogether. If it is already included in your project, consider removing it from your package.json and running npm install to clean up your dependencies.
Conclusion
The distinguished_clam_0xrequest package poses significant risks due to its malicious code designed to exploit the npm ecosystem. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at exploiting the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to security risks, including the potential for malicious code execution and pollution of the npm registry.
You should remove the distinguished_clam_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 open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
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Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
