Malicious Code Injection in Roasted Swordtail Z3N Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96387: Malicious code in roasted_swordtail_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'roasted_swordtail_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 in exchange for tea protocol token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious scripts that compromise its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'roasted_swordtail_z3n' package stems from its inclusion of autopublish scripts that modify the package.json file. These scripts remove private flags, alter version numbers, and generate random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of variants that pollute the npm registry. This behavior can result in a loss of trust in the npm ecosystem and may expose developers to security risks as malicious packages proliferate.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall roasted_swordtail_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 'roasted_swordtail_z3n' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your dependencies using tools like Vulert, which can alert you to vulnerabilities in real-time.
Conclusion
The 'roasted_swordtail_z3n' package poses a significant security risk due to its malicious code that modifies package configurations and floods the npm registry with harmful variants. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and utilize tools like Vulert to maintain the security of their applications.
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FAQ
It is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the proliferation of malicious packages in the npm registry, potentially compromising the security of your project.
You should remove the 'roasted_swordtail_z3n' package from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
Vulert monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the package-lock.json file, providing real-time insights into your project's security.
