Malicious Code Injection in popular_swallow_dumbs: npm Package Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-107147: Malicious code in popular_swallow_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'popular_swallow_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 functionality of these packages is compromised due to the presence of malicious code, which poses a significant risk to developers and users alike.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from a malicious payload embedded within the 'popular_swallow_dumbs' package. This payload modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also compromises the integrity of the packages, potentially affecting any projects that depend on them. The malicious code is part of a broader scheme to exploit the npm ecosystem for token rewards, making it a serious concern for developers relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall popular_swallow_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 'popular_swallow_dumbs' package until a fix is released. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file for any changes that may indicate the presence of this malicious package. Use the following command to check for vulnerabilities: 'npm audit'.
Conclusion
The 'popular_swallow_dumbs' package contains a serious vulnerability that can compromise the security of projects using it. It is crucial for developers to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and to utilize tools like Vulert for ongoing monitoring of vulnerabilities in their applications.
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FAQ
It 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 introduction of malicious code into your project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should immediately update or remove the package from your project to mitigate any risks associated with the vulnerability.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
