Malicious Code Injection in horrible_boa_dumbs Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-103791: Malicious code in horrible_boa_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'horrible_boa_dumbs' package is part of a series of malicious packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. The malicious behavior includes modifying the package.json file to remove private flags and changing version numbers, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
This vulnerability originates from the 'horrible_boa_dumbs' package, which contains scripts that automatically publish derivative packages with random names. The malicious payload alters the package.json file, removing private flags and changing version numbers, allowing the package to continuously republish variants. This can lead to reputation inflation for developers and pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting the integrity of the ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall horrible_boa_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 remove the 'horrible_boa_dumbs' package from your project by executing the command: 'npm uninstall horrible_boa_dumbs'. This will prevent any malicious activity associated with this package until a patch is available.
Conclusion
The 'horrible_boa_dumbs' package presents a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial to take immediate action to remove this package and monitor for updates to protect your application and maintain the integrity of the software ecosystem.
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FAQ
The 'horrible_boa_dumbs' package is a malicious npm package that is part of a campaign to inflate developer reputation scores by automatically publishing derivative packages.
This vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your application by introducing unwanted packages.
You should uninstall the 'horrible_boa_dumbs' package and monitor for any updates or patches that may be released.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
