Malicious Code Vulnerability in motionless_lobster_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-98820: Malicious code in motionless_lobster_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The motionless_lobster_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate automated publishing of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores. However, it has been identified as containing malicious scripts that compromise its integrity.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's design to include autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file. These modifications remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This can result in security risks for developers who unknowingly use these compromised packages, as they may inadvertently integrate malicious code into their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall motionless_lobster_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 motionless_lobster_z3n package and consider using alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The motionless_lobster_z3n package contains a serious vulnerability that can compromise the security of applications using it. It is essential to remove this package and monitor for any potential impacts. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in identifying and managing such vulnerabilities effectively.
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FAQ
It is an npm package that is part of a token reward campaign and is designed to automate the publishing of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the integration of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and functionality.
You should immediately uninstall the motionless_lobster_z3n package and monitor your application for any unusual behavior.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. You can check your application using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Vulert is a tool that monitors open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. It provides real-time alerts for any vulnerabilities detected.
