Malicious Code Injection in regular_centipede_dumbs: npm Package Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-107822: Malicious code in regular_centipede_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The package 'regular_centipede_dumbs' 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. This behavior poses a significant risk to the integrity of the npm registry and can lead to the proliferation of malicious code.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious design of the package, which includes scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names. This allows the package to continuously republish variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising other projects that depend on these packages. The malicious payload can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and a loss of trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall regular_centipede_dumbsIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the 'regular_centipede_dumbs' package and replace it with a trusted alternative. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file for any unexpected changes that may indicate the presence of malicious packages.
Conclusion
The 'regular_centipede_dumbs' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious design aimed at manipulating the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant about the packages they use and to regularly audit their dependencies to maintain the security of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for regular_centipede_dumbs →
FAQ
It is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your project, potentially compromising security and integrity.
You should uninstall the 'regular_centipede_dumbs' package immediately and check your project for any other potentially malicious dependencies.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
