Malicious Code Injection in qualified_emu_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107632: Malicious code in qualified_emu_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The qualified_emu_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate certain functionalities within the npm registry but has been compromised to include malicious code. The package's primary attributes include automatic publishing capabilities, which are now exploited to generate and publish derivative packages with the intent of inflating developer reputation scores for token rewards.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious code embedded within the qualified_emu_0xrequest package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture. The malicious payload continuously republishes these variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This not only affects the integrity of the npm ecosystem but can also mislead developers and users regarding the authenticity and reliability of packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall qualified_emu_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 qualified_emu_0xrequest package from your project by executing the following command: npm uninstall qualified_emu_0xrequest. This will prevent the execution of the malicious code until a patched version is available.
Conclusion
The qualified_emu_0xrequest package has been compromised with malicious code that can significantly impact the integrity of the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your project. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring for such vulnerabilities in the future.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed for automatic publishing of packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json, removes private flags, and generates random package names, which can lead to npm registry pollution and misrepresentation of your project's dependencies.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time 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.
If an immediate update is not possible, consider uninstalling the package as a temporary measure to mitigate risks.
