Malicious Code Injection in special_snake_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-108987: Malicious code in special_snake_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The special_snake_0xrequest package is part of a broader ecosystem associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate certain functionalities related to token rewards but has been compromised. This package is particularly vulnerable due to its association with autopublish scripts that are intended to inflate developer reputation scores by generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the special_snake_0xrequest package, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This can lead to significant security risks, including the potential for developers to unknowingly install compromised packages, which may introduce further vulnerabilities into their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall special_snake_0xrequestIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can prevent the installation of this package by using the following command to uninstall it: npm uninstall special_snake_0xrequest. Additionally, consider using a package-lock.json file to monitor dependencies and avoid installing compromised packages.
Conclusion
The special_snake_0xrequest package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain application security.
See every vulnerability recorded for special_snake_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is a package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to facilitate token rewards but has been compromised.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious code, which may compromise your application's security and integrity.
You should uninstall the special_snake_0xrequest package immediately and monitor your application for any unusual behavior.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
