Malicious Code Injection in responsible_starfish_dumbs Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107976: Malicious code in responsible_starfish_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The responsible_starfish_dumbs package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the malicious code embedded in the responsible_starfish_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 that pollute the npm registry. This behavior can result in a loss of trust in the affected packages and potential exploitation of developers who unknowingly use these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall responsible_starfish_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 responsible_starfish_dumbs package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The responsible_starfish_dumbs package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and the integrity of the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
See every vulnerability recorded for responsible_starfish_dumbs →
FAQ
It is an npm package linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code can modify your package.json, remove private flags, and republish variants, potentially compromising your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the responsible_starfish_dumbs package immediately using the command: npm uninstall responsible_starfish_dumbs.
Yes, consider using other reputable npm packages that fulfill similar functions without the associated risks.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json. You can check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner.
