Malicious Code Injection in adverse_tapir_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-93152: Malicious code in adverse_tapir_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The adverse_tapir_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem and is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. This package is designed to facilitate automatic publishing of derivative packages, which can inflate developer reputation scores for token rewards. However, it has been identified as containing malicious code that modifies package configurations and floods the npm registry with unwanted variants.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the adverse_tapir_z3n package stems from its malicious payload that alters the package.json file by removing private flags and changing version numbers. It generates random package names, primarily themed around Indonesian culture, and continuously republishes these variants to pollute the npm registry. This behavior can lead to significant reputational damage for developers and can compromise the integrity of the npm ecosystem.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall adverse_tapir_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 prevent the installation of this malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json file to monitor dependencies. Ensure that your project does not include the adverse_tapir_z3n package and regularly audit your dependencies for any malicious packages.
Conclusion
The adverse_tapir_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package configurations and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package from their projects and utilize monitoring tools like Vulert to stay informed about potential vulnerabilities.
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FAQ
The adverse_tapir_z3n package is an npm package associated with a token reward campaign that has been identified to contain malicious code.
This vulnerability can lead to the pollution of the npm registry and may compromise the integrity of your project's dependencies.
You should uninstall the adverse_tapir_z3n package immediately and check your project for any other malicious dependencies.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert to monitor your project for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using 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 any signup.
