Malicious Code Injection in Respectable Dragon Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-89947: Malicious code in respectable_dragon_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'respectable_dragon_z3n' package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized in various JavaScript applications. It is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with numerous packages. This package, like others in the campaign, is designed to manipulate npm's publishing system, potentially affecting developers' reputations and the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'respectable_dragon_z3n' originates from its malicious code that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants. This behavior can pollute the npm registry, inflate developer reputation scores fraudulently, and compromise the integrity of the software supply chain.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall respectable_dragon_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 remove the 'respectable_dragon_z3n' package from your project by executing: 'npm uninstall respectable_dragon_z3n'. This will prevent any malicious activities associated with this package until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The 'respectable_dragon_z3n' package poses significant risks due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and repackages itself. It is crucial to monitor your dependencies and take necessary actions to protect your applications from such vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
The package contains malicious code that modifies package.json files and repackages itself under different names, which can lead to npm registry pollution.
You can use Vulert, which monitors open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application without needing to sign up.
Using this package can compromise your application's integrity, inflate developer reputation scores fraudulently, and expose your project to further vulnerabilities.
Regularly audit your dependencies using tools like Vulert and keep your packages updated to the latest secure versions.
If an immediate update is not possible, consider removing the package from your project to mitigate risks until a secure version is released.
