Malicious Code Injection in tory_stingray_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-97034: Malicious code in tory_stingray_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The tory_stingray_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 originates from the malicious code embedded in the tory_stingray_z3n package. This code modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, which leads to the continuous republishing of these variants. The ramifications include pollution of the npm registry, potential exploitation of developers' reputations, and the risk of introducing further vulnerabilities into dependent projects.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall tory_stingray_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 tory_stingray_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, ensure that your project dependencies are regularly audited for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The tory_stingray_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses significant risks to developers and the npm ecosystem. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any potential impacts. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your open-source dependencies.
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FAQ
The tory_stingray_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to inflate developer reputation scores.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and generates random package names, which can lead to security vulnerabilities and pollution of the npm registry.
You should uninstall the tory_stingray_z3n package immediately and monitor your project for any potential impacts from its use.
Yes, Vulert is a tool that can monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just package-lock.json. You can also check your application for vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
