Malicious Code Injection in moral_dormouse_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-88456: Malicious code in moral_dormouse_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The moral_dormouse_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized for various JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with numerous packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate developer reputation scores through automated publishing of derivative packages.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the moral_dormouse_z3n package stems from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file. This code removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall moral_dormouse_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 remove the moral_dormouse_z3n package from your project by executing the command: 'npm uninstall moral_dormouse_z3n'. This will prevent any malicious code from executing in your environment until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The moral_dormouse_z3n package contains a significant vulnerability that poses risks to developers and their applications. It is crucial to address this issue promptly by updating or uninstalling the package to maintain the security of your software. Utilizing tools like Vulert can aid in monitoring and managing such vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
The moral_dormouse_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been linked to malicious activities in the npm registry.
The vulnerability can lead to the injection of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. By utilizing the Vulert playground, you can check if your application is affected without any signup.
If immediate updates are not possible, consider uninstalling the package as a temporary measure to mitigate risks.
Detailed information about this vulnerability can be found in the Open Source Vulnerability database and through security advisories related to npm packages.
