Malicious Code Injection in weak_cheetah_replicate_automation Package
Summary
MAL-2025-110764: Malicious code in weak_cheetah_replicate_automation (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The weak_cheetah_replicate_automation package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily used for automation tasks. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. This package is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts, which can lead to the proliferation of harmful packages in the ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package being associated with a token reward campaign that utilizes autopublish scripts to generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and continuously republishing variants. This not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall weak_cheetah_replicate_automationIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, avoid using the weak_cheetah_replicate_automation package and monitor your dependencies for any malicious activity. You can also use tools like Vulert to check for vulnerabilities in your package-lock.json file.
Conclusion
The weak_cheetah_replicate_automation package poses a significant risk due to its malicious nature. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant and remove any instances of this package from their projects. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in monitoring for vulnerabilities and ensuring the security of your applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package involved in automation tasks but has been identified as malicious.
It can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your application, compromising its security.
Uninstall the package immediately and monitor your dependencies for any other vulnerabilities.
You can use Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for real-time alerts on open-source vulnerabilities.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities without any signup.
