Malicious Code Injection in xaver-botok23-ruro Package
Summary
MAL-2025-111049: Malicious code in xaver-botok23-ruro (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The xaver-botok23-ruro 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 for token rewards. This behavior poses significant risks to the integrity of the npm registry and the security of applications relying on these packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the xaver-botok23-ruro package originates from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and alters version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to the proliferation of malicious packages, potentially compromising applications that inadvertently depend on them.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall xaver-botok23-ruroIf 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 xaver-botok23-ruro package and any other packages that may be part of the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Monitor your package-lock.json file for any unauthorized changes and remove any suspicious packages immediately.
Conclusion
The xaver-botok23-ruro package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious behavior of modifying package files and republishing variants. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies to maintain the integrity of your applications.
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FAQ
The xaver-botok23-ruro package is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through automated package publishing.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your package-lock.json file. You can also check your application using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
The risks include the potential for malicious code execution, pollution of the npm registry, and compromise of applications that depend on these malicious packages.
There is no patch for the xaver-botok23-ruro package itself, as it is recommended to remove it entirely from your project.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use trusted sources for packages, and employ tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
