Malicious Code Injection in moderate_reptile_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-105928: Malicious code in moderate_reptile_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The moderate_reptile_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publishing of derivative packages, which are often used to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. Its functionality is compromised due to the presence of malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the moderate_reptile_0xrequest package stems from its inclusion in a campaign that floods the npm registry with malicious packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially exposing their applications to further vulnerabilities.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall moderate_reptile_0xrequestIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, avoid using the moderate_reptile_0xrequest package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Regularly audit your dependencies to ensure they are secure.
Conclusion
The moderate_reptile_0xrequest package presents a significant security risk due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the security of your applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may expose your application to further security risks if compromised packages are used.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any dependencies that may rely on it, updating them as necessary.
Yes, Vulert can monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json.
