Malicious Code Injection in ideological_wallaby_dumbs: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-103940: Malicious code in ideological_wallaby_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The package 'ideological_wallaby_dumbs' is part of a series of npm 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 functionality of this package is compromised due to the presence of malicious code that alters its metadata and behavior.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from a malicious payload embedded within the 'ideological_wallaby_dumbs' package. This payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. It continuously republishes these variants to the npm registry, leading to pollution of the registry and potential exploitation by malicious actors. The ramifications include unauthorized access to sensitive data, reputation damage for developers, and a compromised npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ideological_wallaby_dumbsIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can remove the 'ideological_wallaby_dumbs' package from your project by executing the following command: 'npm uninstall ideological_wallaby_dumbs'. This will prevent the execution of the malicious code until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The 'ideological_wallaby_dumbs' package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and republishing behavior. It is crucial to take immediate action by uninstalling the package and monitoring for updates. Utilizing tools like Vulert can enhance your security posture by providing real-time vulnerability alerts.
See every vulnerability recorded for ideological_wallaby_dumbs →
FAQ
It is an npm package that is part of a campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file and can lead to unauthorized republishing of your packages, potentially compromising your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately and monitor for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
Yes, Vulert can monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities using just the package-lock.json file, providing real-time alerts.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
