Malicious Code Injection in frightened_cardinal_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-102939: Malicious code in frightened_cardinal_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'frightened_cardinal_0xrequest' package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages often contain scripts that automatically generate and publish derivative packages, leading to potential security risks for developers and users alike.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'frightened_cardinal_0xrequest' package originates from its design to include autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file. This modification removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which can lead to the pollution of the npm registry. The malicious payload can inflate developer reputation scores fraudulently, posing risks such as the introduction of untrusted code into applications that rely on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall frightened_cardinal_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 remove the 'frightened_cardinal_0xrequest' package from your project by executing: 'npm uninstall frightened_cardinal_0xrequest'. This will prevent any malicious code from executing while you assess alternative packages or wait for a fixed version.
Conclusion
The 'frightened_cardinal_0xrequest' package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and inflates developer reputation scores. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your application.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, known for containing malicious code.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of untrusted code, potentially compromising your application's security.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to monitor and alert for vulnerabilities in your application without needing to sign up.
If you cannot update the package, consider removing it from your project as a temporary measure to mitigate risks.
Detailed information can be found in the vulnerability report and through the package's repository on npm.
