Malicious Code Injection in Redundant Chameleon 0xRequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107795: Malicious code in redundant_chameleon_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'redundant_chameleon_0xrequest' package is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to automate the publishing of derivative packages with randomized names, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, this functionality has led to significant security concerns, as the package contains malicious scripts that manipulate its own metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates 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 not only compromises the integrity of the package but also leads to pollution of the npm registry, making it difficult for developers to trust legitimate packages. The scripts involved are typically named auto.js, autopublish.js, autopublish2.js, and autopublish3.js, and they continuously republish variants of the package, exacerbating the issue.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall redundant_chameleon_0xrequestIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can temporarily avoid using this package by removing it from your dependencies. You can do this by executing the following command in your project directory: npm uninstall redundant_chameleon_0xrequest. Additionally, consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The 'redundant_chameleon_0xrequest' package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and republish variants. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and consider using safer alternatives. Monitoring tools like Vulert can aid in identifying such vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
The package contains malicious code that alters its own metadata and republish variants, leading to npm registry pollution.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. By checking your package-lock.json file, Vulert can help you identify affected packages.
You should uninstall the package immediately using the command: npm uninstall redundant_chameleon_0xrequest.
Yes, consider looking for other npm packages that offer similar functionality without the security risks associated with redundant_chameleon_0xrequest.
Utilize tools like Vulert, which provides real-time monitoring for vulnerabilities in your open-source dependencies without requiring code access or installation.
