Malicious Code Injection in steep_tahr_z3n: A Threat to npm Packages
Summary
MAL-2025-90752: Malicious code in steep_tahr_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'steep_tahr_z3n' is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to interact with the npm registry, but it has been identified as malicious due to its functionality that includes autopublishing scripts. These scripts are intended to inflate developer reputation scores by generating and publishing numerous derivative packages with randomized names, which can lead to pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'steep_tahr_z3n' originates from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which can lead to the proliferation of unwanted packages in the npm registry. This behavior not only compromises the integrity of the npm ecosystem but also poses risks to developers who may unknowingly install these malicious packages, potentially leading to security breaches in their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall steep_tahr_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 this malicious package by using the following command to uninstall it: npm uninstall steep_tahr_z3n. Additionally, consider using npm audit to check for vulnerabilities in your project.
Conclusion
The 'steep_tahr_z3n' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious behavior of modifying package.json and republishing unwanted packages. It is crucial for developers to be vigilant and remove such packages from their projects to maintain the security of their applications. Regular monitoring and auditing of dependencies can help mitigate these risks.
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FAQ
'steep_tahr_z3n' is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that has been identified as malicious due to its behavior of autopublishing derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to the installation of unwanted and potentially harmful packages, compromising the security and integrity of your application.
You should uninstall the package immediately and check for any other dependencies that may be affected by similar vulnerabilities.
You can use tools like npm audit to check for vulnerabilities in your project. Additionally, consider using Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just package-lock.json.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
