Malicious Code Injection in clear_beetle_dumbs Package
Summary
MAL-2025-100591: Malicious code in clear_beetle_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The clear_beetle_dumbs package is part of the npm ecosystem and appears to be associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that modifies critical files and repackages itself under random names, leading to potential security risks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the clear_beetle_dumbs package, which includes scripts that automatically modify the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to the npm registry. This behavior can lead to pollution of the npm registry and compromise the integrity of the software supply chain, making it difficult for developers to trust the packages they use.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall clear_beetle_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 prevent the installation of this malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. You can also use the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall clear_beetle_dumbs.
Conclusion
The clear_beetle_dumbs package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package files and repackages itself. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to ensure the integrity of their software.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file and can lead to the publication of untrusted packages, compromising your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the clear_beetle_dumbs package immediately and monitor your project for any unusual behavior.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
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