Malicious Code Injection in secure_centipede_requirement Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96486: Malicious code in secure_centipede_requirement (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The secure_centipede_requirement package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is suspected to be involved in a token reward campaign that exploits npm's publishing capabilities. It is designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, potentially compromising the integrity of the npm registry and affecting developers' reputations.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the secure_centipede_requirement package, which contains malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the automatic republishing of these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other packages and developers. The malicious payload is part of a broader scheme to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, posing significant risks to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall secure_centipede_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 remove the secure_centipede_requirement package from your project by executing the command: 'npm uninstall secure_centipede_requirement'. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a fix is applied.
Conclusion
The secure_centipede_requirement package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and republishing behavior. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by uninstalling the package and monitoring their projects for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
See every vulnerability recorded for secure_centipede_requirement →
FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as containing malicious code designed to exploit the npm registry.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file and can lead to the automatic republishing of compromised packages, affecting your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
