Malicious Code Injection in primitive_tarsier_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-89517: Malicious code in primitive_tarsier_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The primitive_tarsier_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, often with randomized names, to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. Its functionality is compromised due to the presence of malicious code that alters critical package attributes.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the primitive_tarsier_z3n package stems from 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 variants that pollute the npm registry. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which exploits npm's publishing mechanisms to manipulate developer reputation scores. The ramifications include potential security risks for applications relying on this package, as well as the degradation of the npm ecosystem due to the proliferation of malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall primitive_tarsier_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 prevent the installation of the primitive_tarsier_z3n package by using the following command: npm uninstall primitive_tarsier_z3n. Additionally, you can monitor your project for vulnerabilities using Vulert, which analyzes your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The primitive_tarsier_z3n package contains malicious code that poses a significant threat to applications using it. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities in your project.
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FAQ
The primitive_tarsier_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, potentially exposing your application to security risks and polluting the npm registry with unwanted packages.
If you have installed the primitive_tarsier_z3n package, you should uninstall it immediately and monitor your project for vulnerabilities.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities by analyzing your package-lock.json file without requiring code access or installation.
You can check if your application is affected by using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner, which allows you to analyze your project without signing up.
