[BUG] approve-scripts cannot approve packages with dots in package name (ENOMATCH / silent no-op)

[rowiththeflow]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

This issue exists in the latest npm version

• I am using the latest npm

This is not just a request to bump a dependency for a CVE

• This is not solely a request to bump a dependency for a CVE

Current Behavior

npm approve-scripts cannot approve packages whose name contains dots (e.g. cordova.plugins.diagnostic). The package is correctly detected by npm approve-scripts --allow-scripts-pending as having unreviewed install scripts, but every approval path silently fails or errors - leaving the package permanently stuck as "pending" with no CLI path to approve it.

• npm approve-scripts cordova.plugins.diagnostic - Nothing to approve; allowScripts unchanged
• npm approve-scripts cordova.plugins.diagnostic@7.3.0 - ENOMATCH: No installed packages match
• npm approve-scripts --all - silently skips it, Nothing to approve; allowScripts unchanged

The workaround is to manually edit package.json:
"allowScripts": {
"cordova.plugins.diagnostic@7.3.0": true
}

Expected Behavior

npm approve-scripts cordova.plugins.diagnostic should add "cordova.plugins.diagnostic@7.3.0": true to the allowScripts block in package.json, the same way it works for packages without dots in their name (e.g. @sentry/cli).

Steps To Reproduce

1. Create a project that depends on cordova.plugins.diagnostic
   mkdir repro && cd repro
   cat > package.json << 'EOF'
   {
   "name": "repro",
   "version": "1.0.0",
   "dependencies": {
   "cordova.plugins.diagnostic": "7.3.0"
   }
   }
   EOF

2. Install
   npm install

3. See it flagged as pending — works correctly
   npm approve-scripts --allow-scripts-pending

1 package has install scripts not yet covered by allowScripts:
cordova.plugins.diagnostic@7.3.0 (postinstall: node ./scripts/apply-modules.js)

4. Try to approve - silent no-op
   npm approve-scripts cordova.plugins.diagnostic

Nothing to approve; allowScripts unchanged

5. Try with version specifier - ENOMATCH
   npm approve-scripts cordova.plugins.diagnostic@7.3.0

npm error code ENOMATCH
npm error No installed packages match: cordova.plugins.diagnostic@7.3.0

6. --all also silently skips it
   npm approve-scripts --all

Nothing to approve; allowScripts unchanged

Environment

• npm: 11.16.0
• Node.js: v22.22.3
• OS Name: macOS 15.7.5
• System Model Name: MacBook Pro