Malicious Code Injection in responsible_nightingale_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-89950: Malicious code in responsible_nightingale_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The responsible_nightingale_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 publishing of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that modifies its own package.json file and republishes variants to pollute the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's malicious payload, which alters the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages. The malicious scripts included in the package are designed to continuously republish variants, further exacerbating the issue.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall responsible_nightingale_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 responsible_nightingale_z3n package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The responsible_nightingale_z3n package contains a serious vulnerability due to its malicious code that modifies package metadata and repopulates the npm registry with compromised packages. It is essential to remove this package from your project and monitor for any similar vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
See every vulnerability recorded for responsible_nightingale_z3n →
FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the inclusion of malicious code in your project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the responsible_nightingale_z3n package immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
Yes, tools like Vulert can monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software without requiring access to the code.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
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