Malicious Code Injection in thin_gorilla_dumbs: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-109606: Malicious code in thin_gorilla_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package thin_gorilla_dumbs 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 is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for rewards associated with the tea protocol, making it a significant concern for developers relying on npm for package management.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in thin_gorilla_dumbs originates from its malicious intent to modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This results in the continuous republishing of variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can lead to reputational damage for developers and potential security risks for applications relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall thin_gorilla_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 remove the thin_gorilla_dumbs package from your project by executing the command: npm uninstall thin_gorilla_dumbs. This will prevent any malicious code from executing in your application until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The thin_gorilla_dumbs package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior of modifying package metadata and republishing variants. Developers should take immediate action to remove this package and monitor their applications for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in maintaining the security of your npm packages.
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FAQ
thin_gorilla_dumbs is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating the npm registry for token rewards.
The vulnerability can lead to the injection of malicious code, which may compromise the security of your application and affect its functionality.
If you have installed thin_gorilla_dumbs, it is crucial to uninstall it immediately and monitor your application for any unusual behavior.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
