Malicious Code Vulnerability in troubled_toad_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-98973: Malicious code in troubled_toad_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The troubled_toad_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 modifies its own configuration files and publishes harmful variants to the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability originates from the package's 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 continuous republishing of these variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can compromise the integrity of the ecosystem. The package is designed to exploit the npm registry's trust model, making it a significant threat to developers and users relying on npm packages.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall troubled_toad_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, avoid using the troubled_toad_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can monitor your project for any unauthorized changes in your package.json file.
Conclusion
The troubled_toad_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and republish variants. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any unauthorized changes. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
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FAQ
troubled_toad_z3n is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized changes in your project's dependencies, potentially compromising the security and integrity of your application.
You should uninstall the troubled_toad_z3n package immediately and check for any dependencies that may be affected.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using just your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
