Malicious Code Injection in persistent_newt_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-95878: Malicious code in persistent_newt_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The persistent_newt_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 are often used to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the persistent_newt_z3n package stems from its malicious payload, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other developers and users relying on legitimate packages. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has flooded the npm ecosystem with similar malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall persistent_newt_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 persistent_newt_z3n package and instead look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. You can remove the package using the following command: npm uninstall persistent_newt_z3n.
Conclusion
The persistent_newt_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package from your project and monitor for any similar vulnerabilities to maintain the integrity of your software.
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FAQ
The persistent_newt_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting other packages you may rely on.
You should uninstall the persistent_newt_z3n package immediately to prevent any potential security risks.
Currently, there is no patched version available for the persistent_newt_z3n package. It is recommended to remove the package entirely.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just your package-lock.json file. You can also check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner without any signup.
