Malicious Code Vulnerability in evolutionary_hookworm-tool: Exploitation of npm Registry
Summary
MAL-2025-102296: Malicious code in evolutionary_hookworm-tool (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The evolutionary_hookworm-tool is an npm package that is part of a broader campaign aimed at exploiting the npm registry for token rewards. It is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can mislead developers and inflate reputation scores within the npm ecosystem. This package's functionality is compromised due to its malicious intent, which poses significant risks to developers relying on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the package being part of a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and changes version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This not only affects the integrity of the npm ecosystem but can also lead to developers inadvertently using compromised packages, resulting in potential security breaches.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall evolutionary_hookworm-toolIf 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 evolutionary_hookworm-tool package altogether. If it is already in use, consider replacing it with a reputable alternative that does not have known vulnerabilities. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file for any unauthorized changes.
Conclusion
The evolutionary_hookworm-tool package presents a significant security risk due to its malicious design aimed at exploiting the npm registry. Developers should take immediate action to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in maintaining a secure development environment.
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FAQ
It is an npm package involved in a malicious campaign that exploits the npm registry for token rewards.
Using this package can lead to security breaches, as it modifies your package.json and can introduce malicious code.
You should remove the evolutionary_hookworm-tool package from your project immediately and monitor for any unauthorized changes.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json 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.
