Malicious Code Vulnerability in previous_snail_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107249: Malicious code in previous_snail_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The previous_snail_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 publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores. However, it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that can alter package metadata and republish variants, leading to potential abuse within the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious code embedded in the previous_snail_0xrequest package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names, which can lead to the pollution of the npm registry. The malicious payload is designed to continuously republish these variants, making it difficult for developers to maintain clean and secure package dependencies. The ramifications include compromised project integrity, potential security risks, and damage to developer reputation.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall previous_snail_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 remove the previous_snail_0xrequest package from your project by running: npm uninstall previous_snail_0xrequest. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a safe version is available.
Conclusion
The previous_snail_0xrequest package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise project integrity and security. It is crucial for developers to update or remove this package to safeguard their applications. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
See every vulnerability recorded for previous_snail_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code can alter your package.json file, remove private flags, and republish variants, leading to potential security risks and project integrity issues.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without requiring any signup.
As a workaround, you can uninstall the previous_snail_0xrequest package to prevent any malicious code from executing.
Detailed information can be found in the vulnerability report and on the Vulert platform, which provides insights into open-source vulnerabilities.
