Malicious Code Injection in gay_octopus_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-103070: Malicious code in gay_octopus_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The gay_octopus_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem, often used for various JavaScript applications. It is typically utilized for making HTTP requests. However, this package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages with randomized names.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the gay_octopus_0xrequest package stems from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package contains malicious scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. The scripts continuously republish these variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry and potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these packages. The malicious payload can compromise the integrity of applications relying on this package, making it a significant threat.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall gay_octopus_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 gay_octopus_0xrequest package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The gay_octopus_0xrequest package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and publish harmful variants. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
The gay_octopus_0xrequest package is an npm package used for making HTTP requests, but it has been identified as malicious.
The vulnerability can lead to the modification of your package.json file and the introduction of malicious code, compromising your application's security.
You should uninstall the gay_octopus_0xrequest package immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
