Malicious Code Injection in eager_dolphin_dumbs Package
Summary
MAL-2025-101841: Malicious code in eager_dolphin_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'eager_dolphin_dumbs' package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that modifies package metadata and repurposes it for nefarious activities.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which alters the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of other packages. The malicious scripts included in the package are designed to automate these processes, making it difficult for developers to detect and mitigate the issue.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall eager_dolphin_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 package by using npm's package-lock.json to lock your dependencies. Ensure that you do not include 'eager_dolphin_dumbs' in your dependencies or devDependencies.
Conclusion
The 'eager_dolphin_dumbs' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repurposes it for harmful activities. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for similar vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your projects.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json, removes private flags, and can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, affecting the integrity of your dependencies.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall eager_dolphin_dumbs' and check your package-lock.json for any remnants.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities without any signup.
