Critical Malicious Code Vulnerability in react-native-fetch Package
Summary
MAL-2025-190997: Malicious code in react-native-fetch (npm). Affects react-native-fetch versions 2.0.1 – 2.0.2. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The react-native-fetch package is a widely used library in the JavaScript ecosystem, particularly for React Native applications. It facilitates network requests, allowing developers to fetch data from APIs easily. However, this package has been found to contain malicious code, posing significant security risks to applications that rely on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the inclusion of malicious code within the react-native-fetch package. This code can compromise any computer where the package is installed, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data, including secrets and keys. The malicious nature of the code has been confirmed by multiple sources, indicating that systems using this package should be considered fully compromised.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall react-native-fetchIf 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 avoid using the react-native-fetch package altogether and consider alternative libraries for making network requests, such as axios or the built-in fetch API in JavaScript.
Conclusion
The discovery of malicious code in the react-native-fetch package poses a serious threat to applications using it. Immediate action is required to remove the package and secure any compromised systems. Regular monitoring of dependencies is essential to maintain security in software development.
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FAQ
Immediately remove the package and rotate any secrets or keys stored on the affected computer.
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Currently, there is no patch available for the malicious version of react-native-fetch. It is recommended to remove the package entirely.
Failing to address this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and potential control over your system by malicious actors.
While many packages are safe, it is crucial to regularly monitor and audit your dependencies for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
