Malicious Code Injection in unpleasant_perch_dumbs Package
Summary
MAL-2025-110178: Malicious code in unpleasant_perch_dumbs (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'unpleasant_perch_dumbs' package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that modifies package metadata and repurposes it for harmful activities.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which alters the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry, potentially compromising the integrity of the ecosystem and affecting developers relying on legitimate packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall unpleasant_perch_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 temporarily avoid using the 'unpleasant_perch_dumbs' package by replacing it with alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your package-lock.json file for any unauthorized changes.
Conclusion
The 'unpleasant_perch_dumbs' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repurposes it for harmful activities. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and monitor for any vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
It is an npm package involved in a token reward campaign that has been identified to contain malicious code.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modifications of your package metadata and potentially compromise your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities without needing to sign up.
