Malicious Code Detected in moaning_aardvark_0xrequest: npm Package Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-105910: Malicious code in moaning_aardvark_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'moaning_aardvark_0xrequest' is part of a series of npm packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. The malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to alter critical files and continuously republish variants, thereby polluting the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's design to include autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. This malicious behavior allows the package to generate random names for derivative packages, which are then published to the npm registry, leading to potential security risks and reputation damage for developers. The continuous republishing of these variants can clutter the registry and make it difficult for developers to find legitimate packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall moaning_aardvark_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 'moaning_aardvark_0xrequest' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The 'moaning_aardvark_0xrequest' package poses significant risks due to its malicious behavior of modifying package files and republishing variants. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain security and integrity.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry with malicious packages, making it harder to find legitimate packages and potentially compromising your project's security.
You should remove the 'moaning_aardvark_0xrequest' package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches that may be released.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without requiring any signup.
