Malicious Code Injection in rotten_narwhal_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96401: Malicious code in rotten_narwhal_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The rotten_narwhal_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 the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the rotten_narwhal_z3n package originates from its malicious payload, which 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, effectively polluting the npm registry and potentially impacting other developers and users relying on the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall rotten_narwhal_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 installation of the rotten_narwhal_z3n package by using the following command to uninstall it: npm uninstall rotten_narwhal_z3n. Additionally, you can monitor your project for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, which can alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities without requiring code access.
Conclusion
The rotten_narwhal_z3n package contains a significant vulnerability due to its malicious code, which can compromise the integrity of the npm registry. It is crucial to take immediate action by updating or removing the package and utilizing tools like Vulert for ongoing monitoring of vulnerabilities in your projects.
See every vulnerability recorded for rotten_narwhal_z3n →
FAQ
rotten_narwhal_z3n is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file and can lead to the pollution of the npm registry, affecting the integrity of your project and potentially introducing security risks.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor your application for vulnerabilities. You can check for affected packages using their playground at Vulert Scanner.
If no patched version is available, it is advisable to remove the rotten_narwhal_z3n package from your project to mitigate the risk.
Regularly monitor your dependencies using tools like Vulert and keep your packages updated to the latest secure versions.
