Malicious Code Injection in ideological_turtle_z3n: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-98757: Malicious code in ideological_turtle_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package ideological_turtle_z3n is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been linked to the proliferation of malicious packages on npm. Its primary function is to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to manipulate developer reputation scores for token rewards. This behavior raises significant concerns regarding the integrity and security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in ideological_turtle_z3n stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which can lead to the pollution of the npm registry. This behavior not only compromises the security of the affected package but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly install these malicious variants, potentially leading to further exploitation and reputation damage.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall ideological_turtle_z3nIf 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 avoid using the ideological_turtle_z3n package altogether. If it is already installed, you can uninstall it by running the following command: npm uninstall ideological_turtle_z3n. Additionally, consider using 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 ideological_turtle_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry with harmful variants. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant, remove such packages, and utilize tools like Vulert to ensure the security of their projects.
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FAQ
ideological_turtle_z3n is an npm package that is part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through the automatic generation of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of malicious code, which may compromise your project's security and integrity, potentially leading to further exploitation.
You should uninstall the ideological_turtle_z3n package immediately to mitigate any risks associated with its malicious behavior.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing the package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check for vulnerabilities in your application without any signup.
