Malicious Code Injection in Lengthy Ape Dumbs Package
Summary
MAL-2025-105068: Malicious code in lengthy_ape_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'lengthy_ape_dumbs' package 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 malicious nature of this package lies in its ability to modify critical files and republish variants, thereby polluting the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'lengthy_ape_dumbs' package originates from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that utilizes autopublish scripts to create and publish numerous derivative packages. This results in the modification of the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The continuous republishing of these variants can lead to a polluted npm registry, affecting developers and users relying on legitimate packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall lengthy_ape_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 'lengthy_ape_dumbs' package and instead look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can use the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall lengthy_ape_dumbs.
Conclusion
The 'lengthy_ape_dumbs' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate npm registry entries. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for lengthy_ape_dumbs →
FAQ
It is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, which may cause conflicts and issues with legitimate packages, potentially compromising the integrity of your project.
You can use Vulert, a tool that monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. By analyzing your package-lock.json file, it can identify if your application is affected by this vulnerability.
Immediately remove the 'lengthy_ape_dumbs' package from your project and look for alternatives. If a patched version is released, update to that version as soon as possible.
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