Malicious Code Injection in underlying_sheep_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-110066: Malicious code in underlying_sheep_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The underlying_sheep_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily used for various JavaScript applications. It has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate the npm registry by creating numerous variants of itself with altered metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious intent behind the underlying_sheep_0xrequest package, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting other developers and applications that rely on npm packages. The malicious payload can compromise the integrity of applications using this package, leading to security risks and reputational damage for developers.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall underlying_sheep_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 package by using npm's package-lock.json to lock your dependencies. Additionally, consider using a tool like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities in real-time. 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 underlying_sheep_0xrequest package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior aimed at manipulating the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity and security of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for underlying_sheep_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, compromising the integrity of your application and potentially introducing security risks.
You should uninstall the underlying_sheep_0xrequest package immediately and check your package-lock.json for any references to it.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring access to the code or installation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
