Malicious Code Injection in intermediate_marmot_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-104347: Malicious code in intermediate_marmot_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The intermediate_marmot_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 automatic generation and publication of derivative packages, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. Its functionality is compromised due to the presence of malicious code that alters package metadata.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from malicious code embedded within the intermediate_marmot_z3n package. This code modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. The result is a continuous republishing of these variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can lead to reputational damage for developers and potential security risks for users who inadvertently install these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall intermediate_marmot_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 intermediate_marmot_z3n package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may have inadvertently included it. Regularly audit your package-lock.json file to identify and remove any malicious packages.
Conclusion
The intermediate_marmot_z3n package contains malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and users alike. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any dependencies that may include it. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in identifying and managing such vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json, potentially leading to the publication of unwanted packages and reputational damage.
You should uninstall the intermediate_marmot_z3n package immediately and check for any dependencies that may rely on it.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
