Malicious Code Injection in thoughtless_gamefowl_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-109646: Malicious code in thoughtless_gamefowl_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The thoughtless_gamefowl_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of applications that depend on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious code embedded in the thoughtless_gamefowl_0xrequest package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. It continuously republishes these variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry. The ramifications include potential exposure of sensitive data, unauthorized access to systems, and degradation of the npm ecosystem's reliability.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall thoughtless_gamefowl_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 prevent the installation of this malicious package by adding it to your project's .npmrc file with the following line: package-lock=false. This will stop npm from using the package-lock.json file for installations, but it is not a permanent solution.
Conclusion
The thoughtless_gamefowl_0xrequest package poses a significant security risk due to its embedded malicious code. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by uninstalling the package and monitoring their projects for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
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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 malicious code modifies your package.json, potentially exposing sensitive information and leading to unauthorized access or system compromise.
You should uninstall the package immediately using npm uninstall thoughtless_gamefowl_0xrequest and check your project for any vulnerabilities.
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 by this vulnerability without any signup.
