Malicious Code Injection in acute_flea_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-99110: Malicious code in acute_flea_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The acute_flea_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 npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the acute_flea_z3n package originates from its involvement in a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. The malicious payload modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names, leading to pollution of the npm registry. This can result in security risks for developers who unknowingly use these compromised packages, as they may inadvertently introduce vulnerabilities into their applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall acute_flea_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 acute_flea_z3n package and monitor your project for any dependencies that may have been affected by this malicious package. Regularly check your package-lock.json file for any signs of compromised packages.
Conclusion
The acute_flea_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that poses a significant risk to developers using npm. It is crucial to remove this package and monitor your project for any vulnerabilities. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help maintain the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for acute_flea_z3n →
FAQ
The acute_flea_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 introduction of malicious code into your project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should uninstall the acute_flea_z3n package immediately and check for any other affected dependencies in your project.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using your package-lock.json file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
