Malicious Code Injection in Respectable Turtle Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-107957: Malicious code in respectable_turtle_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'respectable_turtle_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 are intended to inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been compromised to include malicious scripts that alter its functionality.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability stems from the presence of malicious code within the 'respectable_turtle_z3n' package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, changes version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry. The origin of this issue is linked to a broader campaign that exploits npm's publishing mechanisms to manipulate developer reputation and disrupt the integrity of the package ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall respectable_turtle_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_turtle_z3n' package from your project by executing 'npm uninstall respectable_turtle_z3n'. This will prevent any malicious scripts from executing until a secure version is available.
Conclusion
The 'respectable_turtle_z3n' package has been compromised with malicious code that alters its functionality and can harm your project. It is crucial to update or remove the package to safeguard your application. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring and identifying vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
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FAQ
The malicious code can lead to the unauthorized modification of your project's package.json file, potentially exposing your project to further vulnerabilities and reputation damage.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. By utilizing the Vulert playground, you can check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
If immediate updates are not possible, consider removing the package as a temporary measure to mitigate risks associated with the malicious code.
Detailed information about the vulnerability can be found in the official npm registry or by reviewing the package's repository on GitHub.
To prevent similar vulnerabilities, regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for monitoring, and ensure that you only install packages from trusted sources.
