Malicious Code Injection in rubber_snail_requirement Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96416: Malicious code in rubber_snail_requirement (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The rubber_snail_requirement package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit npm's publishing capabilities. It is designed to generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names, thereby inflating developer reputation scores for token rewards. The package's functionality is compromised due to its malicious intent, making it a significant risk for developers using it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the rubber_snail_requirement package, which contains malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. The ramifications include pollution of the npm registry, potential reputation damage for developers, and the risk of unintentional use of compromised packages. The malicious payload is designed to exploit npm's publishing process, making it a serious threat to the integrity of the ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rubber_snail_requirementIf 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 the rubber_snail_requirement package by removing it from your dependencies. Additionally, consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The rubber_snail_requirement package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry with compromised packages. Developers are urged to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and continuously republishes variants, which can lead to pollution of the npm registry and potential security risks.
You should remove the rubber_snail_requirement package from your project immediately and monitor for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by the rubber_snail_requirement vulnerability without requiring any signup.
