Malicious Code Injection in noble_swordfish_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-88861: Malicious code in noble_swordfish_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The noble_swordfish_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 scripts that compromise its integrity and the security of applications that depend on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the noble_swordfish_z3n package stems from malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior is intended to pollute the npm registry by continuously republishing variants, which can lead to security risks for developers and users relying on this package. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has flooded the npm registry with similar malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall noble_swordfish_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 avoid using the noble_swordfish_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, ensure that your package.json file does not include any references to this malicious package.
Conclusion
The noble_swordfish_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and pollutes the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to maintain application security.
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FAQ
The noble_swordfish_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can compromise your application's integrity by introducing malicious code that modifies your package.json file and pollutes the npm registry.
You should uninstall the noble_swordfish_z3n package immediately and monitor your application for any unusual behavior.
Yes, tools like Vulert can monitor your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities, ensuring your application remains secure.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
