Malicious Code Injection in worthwhile_halibut_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-97421: Malicious code in worthwhile_halibut_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The worthwhile_halibut_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 in exchange for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that compromises its integrity.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the worthwhile_halibut_z3n package stems from its inclusion in a campaign that floods the npm registry with malicious packages. The code modifies the package.json file to remove 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 significant risks to developers who may unknowingly use these compromised 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 worthwhile_halibut_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 worthwhile_halibut_z3n package altogether and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks.
Conclusion
The worthwhile_halibut_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers and their applications. It is essential to remove this package and monitor your dependencies for vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your software.
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FAQ
worthwhile_halibut_z3n is an npm package that is part of a token reward campaign, which has been identified to contain malicious code.
The vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your application, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the worthwhile_halibut_z3n package immediately and check your application for any signs of compromise.
Yes, tools like Vulert can monitor your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
