Malicious Code Injection in repulsive_prawn_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-96308: Malicious code in repulsive_prawn_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'repulsive_prawn_z3n' is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to generate and publish derivative packages with randomized names, 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 design of the 'repulsive_prawn_z3n' package, which includes scripts that modify the package.json file to remove private flags and change version numbers. It generates random package names and continuously republishes these variants, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This not only affects the reputation of legitimate developers but also poses a risk of dependency confusion and potential exploitation of applications relying on these packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall repulsive_prawn_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 'repulsive_prawn_z3n' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can implement strict version control in your package.json to prevent automatic updates to potentially harmful packages.
Conclusion
The 'repulsive_prawn_z3n' package poses significant risks due to its malicious code that modifies package configurations and floods the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any updates or alternative solutions. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in identifying vulnerabilities in your applications.
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FAQ
The main risk is that it contains malicious code that modifies package.json files, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities in applications that depend on it.
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Immediately remove the package from your project and check for any alternative packages that do not pose security risks.
Currently, there are no specific patches for 'repulsive_prawn_z3n'. The best course of action is to remove the package entirely.
The malicious code floods the npm registry with derivative packages, which can lead to dependency confusion and undermine the integrity of the registry.
