---
id: "MAL-2026-18668"
kind: "package"
aliases: ["MAL-2026-18668"]
title: "Malicious code in wet_rat_replicate_automation (npm)"
severity: "critical"
cvss: null
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: [{"name": "wet_rat_replicate_automation", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 2.3.1", "ecosystem": "npm"}]
ecosystems: ["npm"]
tags: ["malicious", "package"]
not_affected_if: []
published_at: "2026-11-02T22:34:49+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-05T04:31:46+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-05T04:35:24+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "osv-malicious", "url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-18668", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-05T04:31:46+00:00"}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Malicious code in wet_rat_replicate_automation (npm)

## Affected

- npm:wet_rat_replicate_automation affected = 2.3.1 fixed no fixed version listed

## Timeline

- 2026-11-05T04:31:46+00:00 osv-malicious https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-18668

## From the sources

Part of a self-republishing campaign: the package ships autopublish2.js, which in a loop gives the package a new random name, bumps its version, rewrites package.json and runs `npm publish` to publish the package again under the new name. Self-replicating publication is the propagation step of a registry worm and fills the registry with copies. Version examined: 2.3.1; tarball SHA-256 4e7250a12081880b7781ba4a3a0c912fa5347bbbcb3046b039c7459f284085de.

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