Malicious Code Injection in formal_roadrunner_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-102865: Malicious code in formal_roadrunner_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The formal_roadrunner_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate 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 compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the formal_roadrunner_z3n package stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other developers and users by compromising the integrity of the ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall formal_roadrunner_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, you can avoid using the formal_roadrunner_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, regularly audit your npm packages using tools like npm audit to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The formal_roadrunner_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any dependencies that may be affected. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
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FAQ
The formal_roadrunner_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, compromising the integrity of your project and potentially affecting other developers who may unknowingly use the malicious packages.
If you have installed the formal_roadrunner_z3n package, you should uninstall it immediately using 'npm uninstall formal_roadrunner_z3n' and check for any dependencies that may rely on it.
Yes, tools like Vulert can help monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. You can check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
