Malicious Code Injection in wide_swallow_0xrequest Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-110908: Malicious code in wide_swallow_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The wide_swallow_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit npm's publishing capabilities. It is designed to automatically generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names, which can lead to reputation inflation for token rewards in the tea.xyz protocol. The presence of this package poses a significant risk to developers and users relying on npm for secure package management.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the wide_swallow_0xrequest package originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package contains malicious scripts that modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The continuous republishing of these variants pollutes the npm registry, making it difficult for developers to trust the integrity of packages. The ramifications include potential exposure to further malicious code, compromised application security, and a degraded developer experience due to the cluttered npm registry.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall wide_swallow_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, ensure that your package.json file does not include the wide_swallow_0xrequest package. Regularly audit your dependencies using npm audit to identify and address any vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The wide_swallow_0xrequest package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package.json files and repackages itself. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for wide_swallow_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is an npm package identified as part of a malicious campaign that modifies package.json files and republishes variants to inflate developer reputation scores.
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The risks include exposure to malicious code, compromised application security, and a polluted npm registry that makes it difficult to trust other packages.
You can remove the package by running the command: npm uninstall wide_swallow_0xrequest in your terminal.
Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit, and consider using Vulert for real-time monitoring of vulnerabilities.
