Malicious Code Injection in weird_weasel_replicate_automation Package
Summary
MAL-2025-110800: Malicious code in weird_weasel_replicate_automation (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The weird_weasel_replicate_automation package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to automate tasks related to the generation and publication of derivative packages. However, it has been identified as malicious due to its functionality that modifies package metadata and publishes numerous variants to manipulate developer reputation scores.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious code, which alters the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of the ecosystem. The malicious payload can inflate developer reputation scores fraudulently, impacting the trustworthiness of npm packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall weird_weasel_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, you can prevent the installation of the weird_weasel_replicate_automation package by using the following command: npm uninstall weird_weasel_replicate_automation. Additionally, you may want to audit your project's dependencies to ensure no other malicious packages are present.
Conclusion
The weird_weasel_replicate_automation package has been identified as malicious due to its ability to manipulate package metadata and publish variants that pollute the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action to update or remove this package to protect their projects from potential risks.
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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 vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and compromise the integrity of your project's dependencies, potentially affecting your application's functionality.
You should update the package to a patched version if available or uninstall it from your project to mitigate the risk.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file. You can also check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
You can refer to the vulnerability details on the GitHub repository for malicious packages or consult the npm registry for updates.
