Malicious Code Injection in busy_earthworm_dumbs Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100200: Malicious code in busy_earthworm_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The busy_earthworm_dumbs package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized in various JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood npm with numerous packages. This package is designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, which can lead to reputation inflation for developers involved in the tea protocol.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the busy_earthworm_dumbs package stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior can pollute the npm registry and compromise the integrity of other packages, potentially affecting developers and users relying on npm for package management.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall busy_earthworm_dumbsIf 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 busy_earthworm_dumbs package in your project. Additionally, consider using a package-lock.json file to monitor dependencies and ensure that no malicious packages are included in your project.
Conclusion
The busy_earthworm_dumbs package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and users in the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of your projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for busy_earthworm_dumbs →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and compromise the integrity of your project's dependencies.
You should uninstall the busy_earthworm_dumbs package immediately using the command npm uninstall busy_earthworm_dumbs.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
