Malicious Code Injection in aggressive_newt_z3n Package
Summary
MAL-2025-99254: Malicious code in aggressive_newt_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The aggressive_newt_z3n package is part of the npm ecosystem, often utilized in JavaScript projects for various functionalities. However, it has been identified as part of a malicious campaign that floods the npm registry with derivative packages. These packages are designed to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing scripts, which can lead to significant pollution of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the aggressive_newt_z3n package stems from its involvement in a token reward campaign that utilizes malicious scripts to modify package.json files. This includes removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names, which can lead to the proliferation of unwanted packages in the npm registry. The origin of this vulnerability is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which aims to manipulate developer reputation metrics.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall aggressive_newt_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can prevent the installation of this package by using npm's package-lock.json to lock down your dependencies. Additionally, consider using the following command to audit your dependencies: npm audit.
Conclusion
The aggressive_newt_z3n package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that modifies package configurations and proliferates unwanted packages. It is crucial to remove this package from your projects and utilize tools like Vulert for ongoing monitoring of vulnerabilities.
See every vulnerability recorded for aggressive_newt_z3n →
FAQ
aggressive_newt_z3n is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to inflate developer reputation scores through automated publishing.
The vulnerability can lead to the proliferation of unwanted and potentially harmful packages in your project, which may compromise the integrity of your application.
You should remove the aggressive_newt_z3n package from your project immediately and monitor your dependencies for any other malicious packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json file to alert you in real-time for any 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.
