Malicious Code Injection in worthwhile_hippopotamus_0xrequest Package
Summary
MAL-2025-111023: Malicious code in worthwhile_hippopotamus_0xrequest (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The worthwhile_hippopotamus_0xrequest package is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores in exchange for token rewards. This behavior raises significant concerns regarding the integrity and security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the worthwhile_hippopotamus_0xrequest package stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, effectively polluting the npm registry and compromising the security of dependent projects. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been associated with numerous malicious packages flooding the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall worthwhile_hippopotamus_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 worthwhile_hippopotamus_0xrequest package and consider alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can use the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall worthwhile_hippopotamus_0xrequest.
Conclusion
The worthwhile_hippopotamus_0xrequest package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor for similar vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
The package contains malicious code that modifies package.json files and repopulates the npm registry with harmful variants.
You can check your project for the worthwhile_hippopotamus_0xrequest package in your package-lock.json file or use Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities.
You should uninstall the worthwhile_hippopotamus_0xrequest package immediately and look for alternatives.
Regularly audit your dependencies and use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
