Malicious Code Injection in overwhelming_hornet_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-106871: Malicious code in overwhelming_hornet_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The overwhelming_hornet_0xrequest package is part of a broader campaign involving the tea.xyz token reward system. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing numerous derivative packages with randomized names. Its primary function is to inflate developer reputation scores in exchange for token rewards, making it a target for malicious exploitation.
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 leads to the continuous republishing of these packages, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of other 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 overwhelming_hornet_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 prevent the installation of this package by adding it to your npm blacklist or by using npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
Conclusion
The overwhelming_hornet_0xrequest package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior aimed at manipulating the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by removing this package and monitoring their projects for similar vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
It is a malicious npm package involved in a token reward campaign that manipulates the npm registry.
It can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and compromise the integrity of your project's dependencies.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any references in your package-lock.json.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check your application without needing to sign up.
