Malicious Code Injection in worthwhile_bovid_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-111021: Malicious code in worthwhile_bovid_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The worthwhile_bovid_0xrequest package is part of the npm ecosystem, often associated with token reward campaigns. It is designed to facilitate the generation and publication of derivative packages. However, it has been identified as a malicious package that can compromise the integrity of the npm registry and developer reputation scores.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package being part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. It contains scripts that automatically modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but can also lead to unauthorized access and manipulation of developer accounts, potentially resulting in severe reputational damage and security risks.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall worthwhile_bovid_0xrequest
If 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 worthwhile_bovid_0xrequest package and replace it with a trusted alternative. Additionally, regularly audit your npm packages using tools like npm audit to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The worthwhile_bovid_0xrequest package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior of modifying package files and flooding the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for any vulnerabilities to maintain the security and integrity of their projects.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with token reward campaigns that has been identified as malicious.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications in your project and compromise the integrity of your npm registry.
You should uninstall the package immediately using npm uninstall worthwhile_bovid_0xrequest.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json.
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