Malicious Code Injection in leading_planarian_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-105043: Malicious code in leading_planarian_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The leading_planarian_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem, often used in JavaScript applications for various functionalities. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. This package is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through automated publishing of variants, which can lead to significant issues in the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the leading_planarian_0xrequest package, 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 pollution of the npm registry and potential security risks for applications relying on these packages. The malicious payload can compromise the integrity of the software supply chain, making it crucial for developers to address this vulnerability promptly.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall leading_planarian_0xrequestIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the risk of malicious behavior. Always verify the integrity and reputation of packages before including them in your project. Additionally, you can monitor your dependencies using tools like Vulert, which alerts you to open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The leading_planarian_0xrequest package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior aimed at manipulating npm registry integrity. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the security of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for leading_planarian_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to manipulate developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and compromise the integrity of your application by introducing malicious code.
You should uninstall the leading_planarian_0xrequest package immediately and check your package-lock.json for any references to it.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring access to the code or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
