Malicious Code Injection in hurt_marten_z3n Package - npm
Summary
MAL-2025-94889: Malicious code in hurt_marten_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The hurt_marten_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that aims to exploit the npm registry by flooding it with derivative packages. These packages typically contain scripts that automatically generate and publish new packages with altered metadata, thereby inflating developer reputation scores for token rewards.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the presence of malicious code within the hurt_marten_z3n package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which can lead to pollution of the npm registry. The malicious payload is designed to continuously republish these variants, potentially compromising the integrity of the npm ecosystem and affecting 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 hurt_marten_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 prevent the installation of the hurt_marten_z3n package by using npm's package-lock.json file to lock your dependencies. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The hurt_marten_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to maintain the integrity of your software.
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FAQ
The hurt_marten_z3n package is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to exploit the npm registry.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file and can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, affecting the integrity of your project and potentially introducing security risks.
You should uninstall the hurt_marten_z3n package immediately using 'npm uninstall hurt_marten_z3n' and check for any dependencies that may rely on it.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file.
You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner without needing to sign up.
