Malicious Code Injection in thoughtless_crocodile_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-109643: Malicious code in thoughtless_crocodile_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 thoughtless_crocodile_0xrequest package is part of a series of npm packages that have been associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This behavior raises significant concerns regarding the integrity and security of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the malicious code embedded within the thoughtless_crocodile_0xrequest package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which can lead to the pollution of the npm registry. The malicious payload is designed to continuously republish variants of the package, potentially compromising the security of applications that depend on it. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to exploit npm's publishing mechanisms.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall thoughtless_crocodile_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 avoid using the thoughtless_crocodile_0xrequest package altogether. If it is already included in your project, you can remove it by executing: npm uninstall thoughtless_crocodile_0xrequest. Additionally, consider using Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The thoughtless_crocodile_0xrequest package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to applications using it. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor for any updates or patches. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your software by providing real-time alerts for open-source vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for thoughtless_crocodile_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and compromise the security of applications that depend on the affected package.
You should uninstall the thoughtless_crocodile_0xrequest package and monitor for any updates or patches that may address this vulnerability.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json.
You can find detailed information about this vulnerability in the Open Source Vulnerability database or by visiting the Vulert website.
