Malicious Code Injection in Unchanged Worm Dumbs Package: npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-110048: Malicious code in unchanged_worm_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'unchanged_worm_dumbs' package is part of a broader ecosystem that includes various npm packages often associated with token reward campaigns. These packages are designed to manipulate the npm registry by generating and publishing derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior is primarily aimed at inflating developer reputation scores for rewards associated with the tea protocol. The package's functionality is compromised due to malicious scripts that alter its metadata and continuously republish variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the presence of malicious code within the 'unchanged_worm_dumbs' package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which can lead to significant issues such as unauthorized exposure of sensitive information and degradation of the npm ecosystem. The malicious payload is designed to automate the creation and publication of these compromised packages, thereby affecting the integrity of the npm registry and potentially impacting developers who rely on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall unchanged_worm_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, avoid using the 'unchanged_worm_dumbs' package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, which can alert you to open-source vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The 'unchanged_worm_dumbs' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with compromised versions. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their projects for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for unchanged_worm_dumbs →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with malicious activities aimed at inflating developer reputation scores through automated publishing of compromised packages.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized exposure of sensitive information and can pollute the npm registry, affecting the integrity of your dependencies.
You should uninstall the 'unchanged_worm_dumbs' package immediately and monitor your project for any other vulnerabilities.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time about open-source vulnerabilities.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without requiring any signup.
