Malicious Code Injection in rough_penguin_requirement Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96406: Malicious code in rough_penguin_requirement (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The rough_penguin_requirement package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized in JavaScript projects for various functionalities. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. This package is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts, which can lead to significant security risks for users.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the rough_penguin_requirement package stems from its association with a malicious campaign that 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 npm registry but also poses a risk of dependency confusion and potential exploitation of applications relying on this package. The malicious payload can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and the proliferation of insecure packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rough_penguin_requirementIf 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 the rough_penguin_requirement package by using the following command: npm uninstall rough_penguin_requirement. Additionally, consider using npm audit to identify and address any other vulnerabilities in your project.
Conclusion
The rough_penguin_requirement package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and proliferates insecure packages. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain security and integrity.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access and data breaches, as well as the proliferation of insecure packages in your project.
You should uninstall the rough_penguin_requirement package immediately and check for any other affected 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.
