Malicious Code Injection in willowy_vulture_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-110949: Malicious code in willowy_vulture_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The willowy_vulture_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the distribution of derivative packages, which are often used to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious scripts that can compromise the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious code embedded within the willowy_vulture_0xrequest package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. The intent is to continuously republish these variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially leading to security risks for developers who unknowingly use these compromised packages. The malicious payload can affect the reputation of developers and the overall trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall willowy_vulture_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_vulture_0xrequest package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The willowy_vulture_0xrequest package poses a significant security risk due to its embedded malicious code. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in maintaining the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for willowy_vulture_0xrequest →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to distribute derivative packages.
The malicious code can modify your package.json, remove private flags, and republish variants, leading to potential security risks.
You should remove the willowy_vulture_0xrequest package from your project and check for any dependencies that may have been affected.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can also check your application using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly audit your dependencies, keep your packages updated, and use tools that monitor for vulnerabilities to maintain the security of your projects.
