Malicious Code Injection in Powerful Rook Dumbs Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107172: Malicious code in powerful_rook_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'powerful_rook_dumbs' package is part of a broader campaign associated with the tea.xyz token reward system. It is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages on the npm registry. This package, like others in the campaign, employs scripts that manipulate package metadata to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, making it a target for malicious exploitation.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file by removing private flags and altering version numbers. It generates random package names, often themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly use these tainted packages, leading to potential security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall powerful_rook_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, avoid using the 'powerful_rook_dumbs' package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The 'powerful_rook_dumbs' package poses significant risks due to its malicious behavior of modifying package metadata and republishing variants. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and to utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in their dependencies.
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FAQ
It is a malicious npm package associated with a token reward campaign that automates the generation and publication of derivative packages.
Using this package can lead to security breaches as it modifies your package.json and can introduce other malicious packages into your project.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
Uninstall the package immediately and audit your project for any other vulnerabilities. Consider using alternative packages.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like npm audit, and stay informed about known vulnerabilities in the packages you use.
