Malicious Code Injection in retired_quail_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-96349: Malicious code in retired_quail_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The retired_quail_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 can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity and the security of applications that depend on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the retired_quail_z3n package stems from malicious code that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can potentially compromise other packages and applications relying on npm. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which uses such packages to manipulate the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall retired_quail_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 prevent the use of the retired_quail_z3n package by removing it from your package.json file and running npm install to update your dependencies. Additionally, monitor your package-lock.json file for any unexpected changes.
Conclusion
The retired_quail_z3n package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and republish behavior. It is essential for developers to remove this package and monitor their applications for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to maintain security and integrity.
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FAQ
The retired_quail_z3n package 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 modification of your package.json file, potentially compromising your application's integrity and security.
You should remove the retired_quail_z3n package from your project and update your dependencies to ensure your application is secure.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground.
Detailed information about this vulnerability can be found in the official npm registry and vulnerability databases, as well as through security advisories.
