Malicious Code Injection in joint_caterpillar_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-104565: Malicious code in joint_caterpillar_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The joint_caterpillar_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate token rewards through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, leading to the pollution of the npm registry with numerous derivative packages. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm ecosystem with such malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall joint_caterpillar_0xrequestIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the joint_caterpillar_0xrequest package altogether. If it is already in your project, remove it using the command: npm uninstall joint_caterpillar_0xrequest.
Conclusion
The joint_caterpillar_0xrequest package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and stay informed about potential vulnerabilities to maintain the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for joint_caterpillar_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your project by introducing malicious code.
You should uninstall the joint_caterpillar_0xrequest package immediately and monitor your project for any unusual behavior.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor and alert in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. You can check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
You can refer to the vulnerability details provided by Amazon Inspector or check the npm registry for updates regarding the joint_caterpillar_0xrequest package.
