Malicious Code Injection in thorough_penguin_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-109635: Malicious code in thorough_penguin_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The thorough_penguin_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate certain functionalities within the npm registry but has been compromised to include malicious scripts that manipulate package metadata. The vulnerability stems from the package's design, which allows for the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, leading to potential abuse and pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the thorough_penguin_0xrequest package involves the presence of malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which are then continuously republished. The origin of this issue is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which incentivizes the creation of numerous derivative packages to inflate developer reputation scores. The ramifications include the potential for developers to unknowingly install compromised packages, leading to security risks and a polluted npm registry.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall thorough_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, you can remove the thorough_penguin_0xrequest package from your project by executing the following command: npm uninstall thorough_penguin_0xrequest. This will prevent any malicious code from executing until a fix is available.
Conclusion
The thorough_penguin_0xrequest package contains a significant vulnerability due to malicious code that alters package metadata. It is essential to take immediate action by updating or removing the package to safeguard your project. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor for such vulnerabilities in the future.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to facilitate certain functionalities but has been compromised.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially leading to the installation of compromised packages and security risks.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
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