Malicious Code Injection in proud_moth_dumbs Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-107387: Malicious code in proud_moth_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The proud_moth_dumbs package is part of a series of malicious 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 behavior of this package poses a significant risk to developers and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the inclusion of malicious code within the proud_moth_dumbs package. This code 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 security and reliability of applications that depend on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall proud_moth_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 proud_moth_dumbs package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, regularly audit your dependencies using tools like npm audit.
Conclusion
The proud_moth_dumbs package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with untrusted packages. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for proud_moth_dumbs →
FAQ
The proud_moth_dumbs package is a malicious npm package that is part of a campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the security of your application by introducing untrusted code.
You should uninstall the proud_moth_dumbs package immediately and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
