Malicious Code Injection in stuck_trout_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-109217: Malicious code in stuck_trout_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The stuck_trout_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 the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the stuck_trout_z3n package stems 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, polluting the npm registry and potentially affecting other developers and users relying on the npm ecosystem. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has flooded npm with similar malicious packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall stuck_trout_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 stuck_trout_z3n package by using npm's package-lock.json file to lock your dependencies. Additionally, consider using a tool like Vulert to monitor your project for vulnerabilities in real-time. You can check if your application is affected by this vulnerability using the Vulert playground at https://vulert.com/scanner without any signup.
Conclusion
The stuck_trout_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package from your project and monitor for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert to ensure the security of your applications.
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FAQ
The stuck_trout_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 pollution of the npm registry, potentially affecting other developers and compromising the integrity of your project's dependencies.
You should uninstall the stuck_trout_z3n package immediately and check your package-lock.json file for any references to it.
Yes, you can use Vulert to monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your package-lock.json.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by vulnerabilities without needing to sign up.
