Malicious Code Injection in temporary_marmot_dumbs Package
Summary
MAL-2025-109534: Malicious code in temporary_marmot_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The temporary_marmot_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 are often used to inflate developer reputation scores in exchange for token rewards. However, this functionality has made it susceptible to malicious exploitation.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the temporary_marmot_dumbs package originates from its inclusion in a campaign that floods the npm registry with malicious packages. The malicious code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall temporary_marmot_dumbsIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a workaround, you can avoid using the temporary_marmot_dumbs package altogether. If it is already included in your project, consider removing it and replacing it with a trusted alternative. Additionally, you can use tools like Vulert to monitor your package-lock.json file for vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The temporary_marmot_dumbs package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in real-time.
See every vulnerability recorded for temporary_marmot_dumbs →
FAQ
The temporary_marmot_dumbs package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
You should remove the temporary_marmot_dumbs package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches that may address the vulnerability.
Yes, regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring vulnerabilities, and stay informed about security advisories related to the packages you use.
