Malicious Code Injection in Scary Crab Dumbs Package
Summary
MAL-2025-108411: Malicious code in scary_crab_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'scary_crab_dumbs' package is part of a series of npm packages associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by automatically generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior aims to inflate developer reputation scores for rewards in the tea protocol, making it a target for malicious activities.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'scary_crab_dumbs' package stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This not only compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem but also exposes developers to potential security risks and reputation damage.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall scary_crab_dumbsIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can avoid using the 'scary_crab_dumbs' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can use the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall scary_crab_dumbs.
Conclusion
The 'scary_crab_dumbs' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior of modifying and republishing npm packages. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their projects.
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FAQ
It is an npm package involved in a malicious campaign that modifies and republishes packages to inflate developer reputation scores.
It can compromise your project's integrity by introducing malicious code and affecting your reputation in the npm ecosystem.
You should uninstall the package immediately and look for alternatives. Use 'npm uninstall scary_crab_dumbs' to remove it.
Currently, there is no patched version available. It is best to remove the package until a secure alternative is found.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file. You can check your application against vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground without any signup.
