Malicious Code Injection in hot_halibut_0xrequest: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-103808: Malicious code in hot_halibut_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package hot_halibut_0xrequest 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 designed to manipulate package metadata and publish derivative versions to inflate developer reputation scores.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in hot_halibut_0xrequest originates from its association with a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of other packages. The malicious payload can affect developers by inflating their reputation scores fraudulently and can lead to security risks for applications relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall hot_halibut_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 hot_halibut_0xrequest package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The hot_halibut_0xrequest package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior of modifying package metadata and republishing variants. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and monitor their dependencies for any vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in maintaining the security of your applications.
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FAQ
hot_halibut_0xrequest is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising the integrity of your application and its dependencies.
You should uninstall the hot_halibut_0xrequest package immediately and check for any dependencies that may rely on it.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
Absolutely! You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
