Malicious Code Injection in convenient_moose_dumbs: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-100961: Malicious code in convenient_moose_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'convenient_moose_dumbs' is part of a larger ecosystem within npm, primarily associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names. Its functionality is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for rewards, but it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that can alter package metadata and pollute the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the presence of malicious code within the 'convenient_moose_dumbs' package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The malicious payload continuously republishes these variants, leading to potential security risks such as unauthorized access to sensitive information and degradation of the npm registry's integrity. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood npm with such malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall convenient_moose_dumbsIf 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 'convenient_moose_dumbs' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project for any unauthorized changes in the package.json file.
Conclusion
The 'convenient_moose_dumbs' package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and pollutes the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any unauthorized changes. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in identifying and mitigating such vulnerabilities effectively.
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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 can modify your package.json, remove private flags, and republish variants, potentially compromising your project's security.
You should uninstall the package immediately and monitor your project for any unauthorized changes.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. You can check your application using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly audit your dependencies, keep them updated, and use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
