Malicious Code Injection in xaver-gulai25-apidev: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-92351: Malicious code in xaver-gulai25-apidev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package xaver-gulai25-apidev is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages often contain scripts designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores, posing significant risks to developers and users alike.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in xaver-gulai25-apidev stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and changing 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 reputation damage for developers and potential security risks for users who inadvertently install these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall xaver-gulai25-apidevIf 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 xaver-gulai25-apidev package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project for any unauthorized changes to package.json.
Conclusion
The xaver-gulai25-apidev package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry with compromised packages. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any unauthorized changes to ensure the security of your applications.
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FAQ
xaver-gulai25-apidev is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to manipulate the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized changes in your project's package.json, potentially compromising your application's integrity and security.
You should immediately uninstall the package using 'npm uninstall xaver-gulai25-apidev' and check your project for any unauthorized changes.
Yes, tools like Vulert can help monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just the package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
