Malicious Code Injection in willowy_earthworm_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-110943: Malicious code in willowy_earthworm_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The willowy_earthworm_0xrequest package is part of a series of npm packages that have been associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for rewards associated with the tea protocol.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from malicious code embedded within the willowy_earthworm_0xrequest package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of these variants. The result is a polluted npm registry, which can compromise the integrity of the ecosystem and potentially expose developers to security risks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall willowy_earthworm_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 avoid using the willowy_earthworm_0xrequest package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file for any unauthorized changes.
Conclusion
The willowy_earthworm_0xrequest package contains malicious code that can compromise your project's integrity by modifying essential files and polluting the npm registry. It is crucial to uninstall this package and monitor your dependencies to maintain a secure development environment.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign that has been found to contain malicious code.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications in your package.json file and may compromise the integrity of your project by polluting the npm registry.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall willowy_earthworm_0xrequest' and review your project for any dependencies that may have been impacted.
There is no patch available for the willowy_earthworm_0xrequest package, as it is recommended to remove it entirely from your project.
