Malicious Code Vulnerability in minor_mollusk_dumbs Package
Summary
MAL-2025-105870: Malicious code in minor_mollusk_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The minor_mollusk_dumbs package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other developers and projects relying on npm packages. The malicious scripts (auto.js, autopublish.js, etc.) are designed to automate these processes, making it difficult to track and mitigate the impact.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall minor_mollusk_dumbsIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can avoid using the minor_mollusk_dumbs package altogether. If it is already included in your project, consider removing it and replacing it with a trusted alternative package that does not exhibit malicious behavior.
Conclusion
The minor_mollusk_dumbs package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and monitor for any updates or patches. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in identifying and managing vulnerabilities in open-source software.
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FAQ
The minor_mollusk_dumbs package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, affecting other developers and projects.
You should remove the minor_mollusk_dumbs package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file. You can check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
