Malicious Code Vulnerability in intimate_butterfly_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-95109: Malicious code in intimate_butterfly_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The intimate_butterfly_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, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious code embedded within the intimate_butterfly_z3n package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. The ramifications include pollution of the npm registry, potential security risks for developers using these packages, and a degradation of trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall intimate_butterfly_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 intimate_butterfly_z3n package by using npm's package-lock.json file to lock dependencies and avoid fetching this malicious package.
Conclusion
The intimate_butterfly_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of your projects.
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FAQ
The intimate_butterfly_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the publication of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and generates random package names, which can lead to security vulnerabilities and pollution of the npm registry.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Check your application using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner without any signup.
If you have installed the intimate_butterfly_z3n package, it is recommended to remove it immediately and update your project dependencies.
Yes, consider looking for secure alternatives that provide similar functionality without the associated risks of malicious code.
