Malicious Code Injection in expensive_yak_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-102378: Malicious code in expensive_yak_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'expensive_yak_0xrequest' package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package, like many others, is intended to facilitate the development of applications by providing reusable code. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to manipulate the npm registry and inflate developer reputation scores through automated scripts.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'expensive_yak_0xrequest' package originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package contains malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. The malicious payload continuously republishes these variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry and potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall expensive_yak_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, avoid using the 'expensive_yak_0xrequest' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The 'expensive_yak_0xrequest' package poses significant security risks due to its malicious code designed to manipulate the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to manipulate the npm registry.
Using this package can lead to security risks, including the exposure of sensitive data and the pollution of your project's dependencies.
You should uninstall the package immediately and replace it with a trusted alternative.
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 by this vulnerability without signing up.
