Malicious Code Injection in residential_leopard_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-96317: Malicious code in residential_leopard_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'residential_leopard_z3n' is part of a series of npm packages that emerged during the tea.xyz token reward campaign. These packages are designed to manipulate npm's package registry by generating and publishing numerous derivative packages with randomized names. This behavior is intended to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards, posing significant risks to the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'residential_leopard_z3n' originates from its malicious code, which modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and creates random package names. This results in the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry, potentially leading to reputation damage for legitimate developers and compromising the security 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 residential_leopard_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary measure, you can prevent the installation of this malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json file to monitor dependencies. If you are using Vulert, you can check your application for vulnerabilities without any installation by visiting the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner.
Conclusion
The 'residential_leopard_z3n' package poses a significant threat due to its malicious code that manipulates the npm registry. Developers should take immediate action to remove this package and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor their applications for vulnerabilities. Staying vigilant and regularly updating dependencies is crucial for maintaining software security.
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FAQ
The malicious code can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, affecting the reputation of legitimate developers and potentially compromising the security of applications using these packages.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check your application for vulnerabilities without requiring any signup.
You should uninstall the package immediately using 'npm uninstall residential_leopard_z3n' and review your other dependencies for potential vulnerabilities.
Vulert uses the package-lock.json file to monitor and alert in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software, ensuring you stay informed about potential risks.
There are no patches available for this package due to its malicious nature. It is recommended to remove it entirely from your project.
