Malicious Code Injection in wild_catfish_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-110914: Malicious code in wild_catfish_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The wild_catfish_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem, primarily used for various JavaScript functionalities. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that exploits npm's package publishing system. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward scheme, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing of derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the wild_catfish_0xrequest package stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. This modification removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants. The origin of this issue is linked to a broader campaign that floods the npm registry with these malicious packages, potentially compromising the integrity of the registry and affecting developers who rely on it.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall wild_catfish_0xrequestIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the wild_catfish_0xrequest package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The wild_catfish_0xrequest package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for any vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for wild_catfish_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 unauthorized modifications of your package.json file, potentially compromising your project's integrity and security.
You should uninstall the wild_catfish_0xrequest package immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
