Malicious Code Vulnerability in mutual_tortoise_dumbs Package
Summary
MAL-2025-106064: Malicious code in mutual_tortoise_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The mutual_tortoise_dumbs package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit npm's publishing capabilities. It is designed to generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names, thereby inflating developer reputation scores for token rewards in the tea.xyz protocol. The malicious behavior of this package poses a significant risk to developers and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious code embedded within the mutual_tortoise_dumbs package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. It continuously republishes these variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry and potential misuse of developer accounts. The ramifications include compromised package integrity, increased risk of dependency confusion, and potential exploitation of developers' reputations.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall mutual_tortoise_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 mutual_tortoise_dumbs package and any packages that depend on it. Regularly audit your package-lock.json file to identify and remove any instances of this malicious package.
Conclusion
The mutual_tortoise_dumbs package poses a significant threat to developers and the npm ecosystem due to its malicious behavior. It is essential to take immediate action to remove this package and implement best practices for dependency management to safeguard your projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for mutual_tortoise_dumbs →
FAQ
The mutual_tortoise_dumbs package is a malicious npm package that is part of a campaign to exploit the npm registry by generating and publishing derivative packages.
This vulnerability can compromise the integrity of your project by introducing malicious code and potentially damaging your developer reputation.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. By using the Vulert playground, you can check if your application is affected without any signup.
You should immediately uninstall the mutual_tortoise_dumbs package and review your project for any other potentially malicious dependencies.
Regularly audit your dependencies, keep your packages updated, and use tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in your open-source software.
