Malicious Code Injection in smiling_hedgehog_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-108867: Malicious code in smiling_hedgehog_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The smiling_hedgehog_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized for various web development tasks. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. This package is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of numerous variants, which can lead to significant security risks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the malicious code embedded within the smiling_hedgehog_0xrequest package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The intent is to continuously republish these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising other projects that depend on these packages. The origin of this issue is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which incentivizes such malicious behavior.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall smiling_hedgehog_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, avoid using the smiling_hedgehog_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 smiling_hedgehog_0xrequest package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm registry and developer reputation. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any future vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
See every vulnerability recorded for smiling_hedgehog_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to manipulate developer reputation scores.
The malicious code can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and compromise the integrity of your project by introducing untrusted packages.
You should uninstall the package immediately and monitor your project for any vulnerabilities.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring, and avoid using unverified packages.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
