Malicious Code Injection in sheer_earwig_requirement Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96562: Malicious code in sheer_earwig_requirement (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The sheer_earwig_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 manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing derivative packages with altered metadata. The malicious nature of this package poses a significant risk to developers and users relying on npm for secure package management.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the sheer_earwig_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 is designed to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, leading to pollution of the npm registry. The malicious payload can compromise the integrity of applications that depend on this package, potentially introducing security risks and instability.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall sheer_earwig_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 sheer_earwig_requirement package from your project by executing the following command: 'npm uninstall sheer_earwig_requirement'. This will prevent any malicious code from executing while you assess alternative packages.
Conclusion
The sheer_earwig_requirement package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and can compromise application integrity. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert for ongoing vulnerability monitoring.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to manipulate the npm registry.
The vulnerability can compromise the integrity of your application by introducing malicious code that alters package metadata and potentially affects other dependencies.
You should immediately uninstall the package 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 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.
