Malicious Code Injection in fond_caribou_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-102852: Malicious code in fond_caribou_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The fond_caribou_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem, often used in JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with packages that manipulate developer reputation scores. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to automatically generate and publish derivative packages, potentially leading to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the fond_caribou_0xrequest package arises from malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture. The malicious payload continuously republishes these variants, which can lead to a polluted npm registry and compromise the integrity of the ecosystem. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which incentivizes developers to inflate their reputation scores through such practices.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall fond_caribou_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 this package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert, which can alert you to open-source vulnerabilities in your software without requiring code access. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner.
Conclusion
The fond_caribou_0xrequest package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to applications using it. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your software.
See every vulnerability recorded for fond_caribou_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to manipulate developer reputation scores.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to a polluted npm registry and compromising your application's integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall fond_caribou_0xrequest' and check for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your application for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without needing code access.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability.
