Malicious Code Injection in smooth_turtle_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-96647: Malicious code in smooth_turtle_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The smooth_turtle_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It is designed to facilitate the automatic generation and publication of derivative packages. However, it has been identified as malicious due to its functionality that modifies package.json files and republishes variants to manipulate developer reputation scores.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the smooth_turtle_z3n package stems from its malicious payload that alters the package.json file by removing private flags, changing version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior leads to the pollution of the npm registry and can compromise the integrity of projects relying on this package. The origin of this issue is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has flooded the npm registry with similar malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall smooth_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 avoid using the smooth_turtle_z3n package altogether. If it is already included in your project, remove it by executing: npm uninstall smooth_turtle_z3n. Additionally, consider using Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities. You can check if your application is affected by visiting the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The smooth_turtle_z3n package has been identified as malicious, posing significant risks to projects that utilize it. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your project for vulnerabilities to maintain security and integrity.
See every vulnerability recorded for smooth_turtle_z3n →
FAQ
The smooth_turtle_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 project's integrity and reputation in the npm registry.
If you have installed the smooth_turtle_z3n package, it is recommended to uninstall it immediately using the command: npm uninstall smooth_turtle_z3n.
Currently, there is no specific patch available for the smooth_turtle_z3n package. It is advisable to remove the package until a secure version is released.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json. Visit Vulert Scanner to check your application for vulnerabilities.
