Malicious Code Injection in depressed_newt_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-101358: Malicious code in depressed_newt_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'depressed_newt_z3n' package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. This package has been identified as malicious due to its capability to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores through deceptive practices.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'depressed_newt_z3n' package arises from its malicious code that alters the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to significant security risks, including the potential for dependency confusion and the introduction of untrusted code into applications that rely on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall depressed_newt_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, avoid using the 'depressed_newt_z3n' 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 analyzes your package-lock.json for potential threats.
Conclusion
The 'depressed_newt_z3n' package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry with untrusted packages. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and monitor for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
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FAQ
The 'depressed_newt_z3n' package is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been identified as malicious.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of untrusted code into your project, potentially compromising security and stability.
The best way to fix the vulnerability is to uninstall the 'depressed_newt_z3n' package and ensure that your project does not rely on it.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
If you have used the 'depressed_newt_z3n' package, uninstall it immediately and review your project for any potential security issues.
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