Malicious Code Injection in hollow_dinosaur-silentdev Package
Summary
MAL-2025-103741: Malicious code in hollow_dinosaur-silentdev (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The hollow_dinosaur-silentdev package is part of the npm ecosystem and appears to be involved in a token reward campaign associated with the tea.xyz protocol. 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 scripts that compromise the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the hollow_dinosaur-silentdev package, which includes scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially harming developers' reputations. The malicious payload can also lead to unintended consequences for projects that depend on this package, as it may introduce security risks and instability.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall hollow_dinosaur-silentdevIf 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 hollow_dinosaur-silentdev package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file for any unauthorized changes.
Conclusion
The hollow_dinosaur-silentdev package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their projects.
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FAQ
It is an npm package involved in a token reward campaign that automates the generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may introduce security risks into your project.
You should remove the hollow_dinosaur-silentdev package from your project immediately.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities without needing to sign up.
