Malicious Code Injection in mutual_limpet_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-106059: Malicious code in mutual_limpet_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The mutual_limpet_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate interactions with the tea protocol, but it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious code embedded in the mutual_limpet_0xrequest package, which is part of a broader scheme to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. The malicious payload alters the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and creating random package names, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This can result in security risks for developers who inadvertently use these compromised packages, as they may introduce vulnerabilities into their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall mutual_limpet_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, avoid using the mutual_limpet_0xrequest package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The mutual_limpet_0xrequest package contains malicious code that can compromise your application by altering package metadata and polluting the npm registry. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for mutual_limpet_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to facilitate interactions with the tea protocol.
The malicious code can alter your package metadata, potentially leading to the introduction of vulnerabilities and pollution of the npm registry.
You should uninstall the mutual_limpet_0xrequest package immediately and monitor your application for any unusual behavior.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
