Malicious Code Injection in alternative_prawn_z3n Package - npm Vulnerability
Summary
MAL-2025-99379: Malicious code in alternative_prawn_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The alternative_prawn_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 scripts that compromise its integrity and the security of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the alternative_prawn_z3n package originates from its association with 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 the continuous republishing of variants. This not only compromises the affected package but also pollutes the npm registry, potentially affecting other developers and users.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall alternative_prawn_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 the alternative_prawn_z3n package by using npm's package-lock.json to monitor dependencies. You can also use the following command to uninstall the package: npm uninstall alternative_prawn_z3n.
Conclusion
The alternative_prawn_z3n package has been identified as containing malicious code that can compromise the integrity of projects using it. It is essential to remove this package and monitor your dependencies to ensure the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for alternative_prawn_z3n →
FAQ
The alternative_prawn_z3n package is an npm package involved in the tea.xyz token reward campaign, designed to generate and publish derivative packages.
This vulnerability can compromise your project's integrity by introducing malicious code that modifies your package.json and floods the npm registry with unwanted packages.
You should immediately uninstall the alternative_prawn_z3n package and monitor your project for any unusual behavior.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can check your application using the Vulert playground without any signup.
Regularly monitor your dependencies using tools like Vulert and keep your packages updated to the latest secure versions.
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Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
