Malicious Code Exploit in marten_orange-42: A Threat to npm Users
Summary
MAL-2025-98115: Malicious code in marten_orange-42 (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
marten_orange-42 is an npm package that is part of 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 in exchange for tea protocol token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in marten_orange-42 stems from its inclusion in a malicious campaign that utilizes autopublish scripts to modify package.json files. These modifications remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry. This not only affects the reputation of developers but also poses a risk to users who may unknowingly install these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall marten_orange-42If it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can remove the marten_orange-42 package from your project by executing: npm uninstall marten_orange-42. This will prevent any potential exploitation until a secure version is released.
Conclusion
The marten_orange-42 package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. Users are advised to uninstall the package and monitor for updates to ensure their projects remain secure.
See every vulnerability recorded for marten_orange-42 →
FAQ
marten_orange-42 is an npm package involved in a token reward campaign that has been identified as containing malicious code.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of compromised packages, which may alter your project's dependencies and affect its integrity.
You should uninstall the package immediately and monitor for any updates or patches that address the vulnerability.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
