Malicious Code Injection in Subtle Eel Dumbs Package
Summary
MAL-2025-109245: Malicious code in subtle_eel_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'subtle_eel_dumbs' package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate the generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This package is particularly vulnerable due to its involvement in autopublishing scripts that can manipulate package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'subtle_eel_dumbs' package originates from its malicious design, which includes scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. This allows the package to continuously republish variants with random names, polluting the npm registry. The ramifications include potential security risks for developers who unknowingly use these packages, as they may inadvertently expose their projects to malicious code and reputation damage.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall subtle_eel_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 'subtle_eel_dumbs' package altogether. If it is already included in your project, remove it by executing 'npm uninstall subtle_eel_dumbs'. Additionally, consider using Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The 'subtle_eel_dumbs' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code designed to manipulate package metadata and republish variants. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert for ongoing vulnerability monitoring.
See every vulnerability recorded for subtle_eel_dumbs →
FAQ
It is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your project, compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately and monitor your project for any signs of compromise.
Yes, you can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check your application for vulnerabilities without any signup.
Regularly monitor your dependencies using tools like Vulert and keep your packages updated to their latest secure versions.
