Malicious Code Injection in hot_planarian_dumbs Package
Summary
MAL-2025-103814: Malicious code in hot_planarian_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The hot_planarian_dumbs package is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, but it also poses significant risks to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the hot_planarian_dumbs package stems from its malicious code, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This allows the package to continuously republish variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially leading to security risks for developers who unknowingly incorporate these packages into their projects. The origin of this issue is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been associated with numerous malicious packages flooding the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall hot_planarian_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 avoid using the hot_planarian_dumbs package and any other packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The hot_planarian_dumbs package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and to stay vigilant about the dependencies you use. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help you monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
The hot_planarian_dumbs package is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your project, which may compromise security and integrity, as well as pollute the npm registry.
You can use the Vulert platform to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without needing to sign up.
You should uninstall the hot_planarian_dumbs package immediately using the command npm uninstall hot_planarian_dumbs to mitigate any risks.
Yes, tools like npm audit and Vulert can help you identify and manage vulnerabilities in your npm packages effectively.
