Malicious Code Injection in sharp_butterfly_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-108613: Malicious code in sharp_butterfly_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The sharp_butterfly_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem, typically used in JavaScript applications for various functionalities. However, this package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with harmful packages. It is designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores through automated scripts.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the sharp_butterfly_0xrequest package, which contains malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names to republish variants continuously. This behavior can lead to pollution of the npm registry, making it difficult for developers to find legitimate packages and potentially compromising the security of applications that depend on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall sharp_butterfly_0xrequestIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the sharp_butterfly_0xrequest package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The sharp_butterfly_0xrequest package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their applications for vulnerabilities to maintain security and integrity.
See every vulnerability recorded for sharp_butterfly_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to manipulate npm registry metadata.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your application if it relies on this package.
You should uninstall the sharp_butterfly_0xrequest package immediately and check for any alternative packages.
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 for vulnerabilities without needing to sign up.
