Malicious Code Injection in wise_turkey_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-110962: Malicious code in wise_turkey_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The wise_turkey_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 integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the wise_turkey_z3n package stems from its malicious payload that modifies the package.json file. It removes private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to the continuous republishing of these variants. This behavior not only pollutes the npm registry but also poses a risk to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised packages, potentially leading to security breaches and loss of trust in the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall wise_turkey_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 wise_turkey_z3n package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, you can use the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall wise_turkey_z3n.
Conclusion
The wise_turkey_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises the integrity of the npm registry and poses significant risks to developers. It is essential to remove this package from your projects and monitor for any updates or patches. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
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FAQ
The wise_turkey_z3n package is an npm package associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to automate the generation and publication of derivative packages.
The malicious code modifies your package.json file, removes private flags, and can lead to the publication of compromised packages, which may introduce security vulnerabilities into your project.
If you have installed the wise_turkey_z3n package, it is crucial to uninstall it immediately and check for any other affected packages in your project.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software by analyzing your package-lock.json file.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
