Malicious Code Injection in hissing_swallow_dumbs Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-103729: Malicious code in hissing_swallow_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The hissing_swallow_dumbs package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit the npm registry by flooding it with derivative packages. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry and potential security risks for developers using these packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the hissing_swallow_dumbs package, which contains malicious code 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 the npm registry. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, leading to potential security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall hissing_swallow_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, avoid using the hissing_swallow_dumbs package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may inadvertently include it. Regularly audit your package-lock.json file to identify and remove any malicious packages. You can also utilize tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The hissing_swallow_dumbs package poses a significant risk to the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior, which can compromise the integrity of projects that utilize it. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant, remove this package, and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in their applications.
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FAQ
The hissing_swallow_dumbs package is an npm package identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially compromising your project's security.
Yes, you can secure your project by uninstalling the hissing_swallow_dumbs package and regularly auditing your dependencies for any malicious packages.
You can use Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
