Malicious Code Injection in resident_sole_replicate_automation Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107935: Malicious code in resident_sole_replicate_automation (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The resident_sole_replicate_automation package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily used for automating tasks related to replication processes. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that exploits npm's package management system. This package is designed to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages with randomized names, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package being associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been flooding npm with malicious packages. The malicious code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to further exploitation or data breaches.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall resident_sole_replicate_automationIf 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 using npm's package-lock.json file to lock your dependencies. Ensure that you do not include the resident_sole_replicate_automation package in your project. Additionally, you can use the following command to audit your packages for vulnerabilities: 'npm audit'.
Conclusion
The resident_sole_replicate_automation package has been identified as a malicious entity within the npm ecosystem, posing significant risks to developers and projects. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of your software.
See every vulnerability recorded for resident_sole_replicate_automation →
FAQ
It is an npm package used for automating replication tasks but has been identified as malicious.
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 dependencies that may rely on it.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check your application for vulnerabilities without signing up.
