Malicious Code Injection in selfish_penguin_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-108522: Malicious code in selfish_penguin_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The selfish_penguin_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem, commonly used for various JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with packages that inflate developer reputation scores. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to automatically generate and publish derivative packages, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the selfish_penguin_0xrequest package originates from its malicious intent to modify the package.json file by removing private flags and altering version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall selfish_penguin_0xrequestIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, avoid using the selfish_penguin_0xrequest package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, which analyzes your package-lock.json file for real-time alerts on open-source vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The selfish_penguin_0xrequest package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior of modifying package files and republishing compromised versions. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain application security.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, known for generating and publishing derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your application, compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check your project for any references to it in the package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities without requiring code access or installation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check your application for vulnerabilities without signing up.
