Malicious Code Injection in verbal_echidna_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-110428: Malicious code in verbal_echidna_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The verbal_echidna_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem, typically used in JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with packages designed to inflate developer reputation scores. This package, like others in the campaign, contains scripts that can manipulate package metadata and republish malicious variants.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the verbal_echidna_0xrequest package stems from its malicious payload, 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 behavior can lead to security risks, including the unintentional exposure of sensitive information and the degradation of the npm ecosystem's integrity.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall verbal_echidna_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 monitor dependencies. Ensure that your project does not include verbal_echidna_0xrequest in its dependencies. You can also use Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access. To check if your application is affected, visit the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner.
Conclusion
The verbal_echidna_0xrequest package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with harmful variants. Immediate action is required to remove this package from any projects to safeguard against potential vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, known for malicious activities.
It can lead to the exposure of sensitive information and compromise the integrity of the npm registry.
You should remove the verbal_echidna_0xrequest package from your project immediately.
Currently, there is no patched version available for the verbal_echidna_0xrequest package.
You can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
