Malicious Code Injection in repulsive_crawdad_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107916: Malicious code in repulsive_crawdad_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The repulsive_crawdad_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 code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the malicious payload embedded within the repulsive_crawdad_z3n package. This payload modifies the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture. The package continuously republishes these variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry and potential exploitation of developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall repulsive_crawdad_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 repulsive_crawdad_z3n package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may have inadvertently included it. Regularly check your package-lock.json file for any signs of this package.
Conclusion
The repulsive_crawdad_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its embedded malicious code, which can compromise the integrity of your project and the npm registry. Immediate action is required to remove this package and prevent potential exploitation.
See every vulnerability recorded for repulsive_crawdad_z3n →
FAQ
It 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, removes private flags, and can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting your project's integrity.
You should uninstall the repulsive_crawdad_z3n package immediately using 'npm uninstall repulsive_crawdad_z3n' to mitigate any risks.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without any signup.
Currently, there is no patch available for the repulsive_crawdad_z3n package. It is recommended to remove the package until a secure version is released.
